Ms. Zarah C. Gagatiga

Xavier School's grade school librarian Zarah Grace C. Gagatiga is not made of any of that old stuff.She is a hardworking scholar, a modern educator who refuses to be catalogued."You can't afford to do that anymore," she insists, referring to the outmoded thinking that sees librarians as mere shelf-fixers, "because the library's role is to help in nation-building and to contribute to the children's education."

She talks dreamily of the libraries that she had seen in Singapore: "Everything's automated!
...
Gagatiga has a Bachelor in Secondary Education (Major in Library Science) from the Philippine Normal University.She is currently working on her master's in Library and Information Science in the University of the Philippines, Diliman.Gagatiga initially wanted to teach English Grammar and Literature, but her mother, a retired librarian herself, convinced her to take up the study."I don't regret having followed my mother's advice," Gagatiga says, "because my job is closely related to teaching since librarians also teach--that's something a lot of people don't know."

Gagatiga reveals that librarians do both direct and indirect instruction.In the school library where she works, the librarians conduct programs that teach library skills or work study and research skills.These, according to Gagatiga, are survival skills that students need, especially when they go off to college."Faced with so many information coming from a million different sources, will the student be ready to handle and process all these materials?"she asks.

It is, therefore, the task of the librarian "to teach the research process so that students will know how to use reference materials, to teach them how to write the bibliography, to have respect for Intellectual Property Rights."It is the role of the librarian to create in people a genuine love for reading.She adds, however, that "it's sad that very few institutions are doing this, because of budget restrictions and a general lack of initiative."
...
For Gagatiga, this is a challenge for every librarian.She affirms that "librarians must help promote a reading culture through the implementation of programs that develop and support literacy."So she wonders why librarians are being set aside since she sees the profession as a "scholarly bastion."

With someone like Gagatiga in this field, the future of school librarianship looks bright.She relates, "I feel very passionate about my job because it's my way of making my life meaningful.

Xavier School's grade school librarian Zarah Grace C. Gagatiga is not made of any of that old stuff.She is a hardworking scholar, a modern educator who refuses to be catalogued."You can't afford to do that anymore," she insists, referring to the outmoded thinking that sees librarians as mere shelf-fixers, "because the library's role is to help in nation-building and to contribute to the children's education."

She talks dreamily of the libraries that she had seen in Singapore: "Everything's automated!
...
Gagatiga has a Bachelor in Secondary Education (Major in Library Science) from the Philippine Normal University.She is currently working on her master's in Library and Information Science in the University of the Philippines, Diliman.Gagatiga initially wanted to teach English Grammar and Literature, but her mother, a retired librarian herself, convinced her to take up the study."I don't regret having followed my mother's advice," Gagatiga says, "because my job is closely related to teaching since librarians also teach--that's something a lot of people don't know."

Gagatiga reveals that librarians do both direct and indirect instruction.In the school library where she works, the librarians conduct programs that teach library skills or work study and research skills.These, according to Gagatiga, are survival skills that students need, especially when they go off to college."Faced with so many information coming from a million different sources, will the student be ready to handle and process all these materials?"she asks.

It is, therefore, the task of the librarian "to teach the research process so that students will know how to use reference materials, to teach them how to write the bibliography, to have respect for Intellectual Property Rights."It is the role of the librarian to create in people a genuine love for reading.She adds, however, that "it's sad that very few institutions are doing this, because of budget restrictions and a general lack of initiative."
...
For Gagatiga, this is a challenge for every librarian.She affirms that "librarians must help promote a reading culture through the implementation of programs that develop and support literacy."So she wonders why librarians are being set aside since she sees the profession as a "scholarly bastion."

With someone like Gagatiga in this field, the future of school librarianship looks bright.She relates, "I feel very passionate about my job because it's my way of making my life meaningful.

Xavier School's grade school librarian Zarah Grace C. Gagatiga is not made of any of that old stuff.She is a hardworking scholar, a modern educator who refuses to be catalogued."You can't afford to do that anymore," she insists, referring to the outmoded thinking that sees librarians as mere shelf-fixers, "because the library's role is to help in nation-building and to contribute to the children's education."

The new Group Facilitators are: Mr. Jojo Pagsibigan (Teacher, Dr. A. Albert ES), Ms. Amcy Esteban (Teacher, Legarda ES), Ms. Cecille Samia (Teacher/Guidance Teacher, Makati ES), Ms. Anabel Pagala (Teacher, South Cembo ES), Ms. Leonida Aquino (Teacher, Libis ES), Ms. Olive Elloso (Teacher, Cupang Annex ES), Mr. Isagani Fuentes (Teacher, L. Victorino ES), Ms. Mariecar Fernando (Teacher, CENTEX Manila), Ms. MC Lastimado (Teacher, Payatas B Annex ES) and Ms. Zarah Gagatiga (Librarian, Xavier School).

Other speakers include Bernd Nordhausen, Mobile Solutions Architect of Asia Pacific Solutions Group, Intel; Zarah Grace Calimag-Gagatiga, librarian of Xavier School, who will talk about telecollaboration with Edith Stein Schule of Germany; and Cristino Carbonell, associate professor and e-Learning Access Program training and development Manager of the University of Santo Tomas.