Library-Hopping: An Inevitably Welcoming Summer Escapade

At the first strike of Summer’s heat, I knew exactly where I needed to be. First, I saw myself gallivanting in air-conditioned library after another, gathering materials for my study— “library-hopping” as I call it. Second, I felt myself freely peripatetic on a barutu island-hopping and getting the shiniest tan. Fortunately, in two-month’s time, I was able to take pleasure in experiencing both.

As summer opened, I had the pleasure of visiting the libraries of Visayas State University (VSU). In retrospect, super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) caused a lot of damage in the Leyte area, including VSU’s libraries. However, VSU was back on her feet as a new library, bigger than the one I visited then, is under construction. The thing about VSU was that she is extremely gorgeous and relaxing.

It was effortless to get transported into another dimension with a book when you are surrounded by her majestic trees and incredibly vast natural environment. Coming from the fast-paced, rapid-growing city of Cebu where more buildings rise and vehicles bustling in heavy traffic than growth of trees and flocks of whistling birds, I found ease and gentleness on moments spent in the libraries (which by the way were mostly naturally ventilated—meaning, instead of air-conditioning units, trees supply massive horsepower) and on long walks exploring the campuses after reading a study or two.

Fast-forward to library-hopping destination: University of San Carlos (USC)-Talamban campus, Cebu.

USC’s Learning Resource Center (LRC) is a colossal five-floor repository of varied learning materials with the grand ambiance of Cebu City out the glass windows. It was in summer when I first visited my alma mater’s LRC building and I was in awe at her user-friendly computerized systems from entrance to exit (without losing the personalized librarian-clientele interaction), spaciousness, and immense collections. I panicked at the sight of so many reading materials I wanted to exhaust myself with. So that immediately the second time I went there, I brought my children. Nothing for me was an extremely larger-than-life experience than to witness their epic reactions— probably in equal proportions to the reaction I gave the first time!

University libraries should be responsibly open to all ages. With the sweeping age of PS3, Wii, and other school-diverting technologies, the old-school books as well as the modern e-books and e-journals merged in today’s libraries like USC-LRC fetch positive possibilities for the younger generations’ enjoyment of substantial books and librarian-recommended materials right at the comforts of cozy sofa and reading-conducive environment.

Pause. I included in my itinerary the splendid libraries of Silliman University, Dumaguete. It would have been my third visit in that beautiful University and my first for this year. Sadly, circumstances held back my summer plans. The bright side was the one-year-ahead planned vacation to one of the best island-hopping destinations, if not the best, in the Philippines I truly fulfilled.

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About the Author: Kathleen B. Solon-Villaneza is currently a University administrator, English language and literature professor, and researcher.

Image Credit: www.theatlantic.com