Like the Hundred Islands National Park and Alaminos once idyllic town and now one of the booming economies in Region I today, the public library of Alaminos which known today as Alaminos City Library also has a rich and colorful history.
On April 1, 1949, Alaminos Municipal Library was first established and housed in the municipal building through the effort of the Municipal Council under the energetic leadership of former Mayor Agapito Braganza, who also served as Undersecretary of Labor under President Ramon Magsaysay. |
Some 500 books that were loaned from the Bureau of Public Libraries, Manila was the library's first collection of reading materials. The library was formally opened to the public on May 9, 1949 as a separate library building was erected donated by the “99 Club” then a very active civic organization based in Alaminos, Pangasinan. The purpose was indeed noble for they have made a more spacious, more tolerable atmosphere for the reading public but the downside of it, it's too far from the heart of the town.
In 1953, the Municipal Council under the leadership of Mayor Marcelo Ochave passed and approved a Resolution to transfer the library back to the municipal building. The move was approved by the Director of the Public Libraries. The distance was obviously dwindling the number of clients served. The average daily attendance soared to more but not lesser than 100 readers daily, a welcome average for a town staggering back on its intellectual development and growth. |
And as the municipality of Alaminos paced through the years, eventually, as it is strategically located in the heart of Western Pangasinan, it became the center of Trade and Commerce. In the middle 80’s, private schools mushroomed right in the center of Alaminos. The influx of students increased the library’s number of clients seeing a number of professionals and students coming from the different established educational institutions. And as transportation has become widely available to almost all people from all walks of life, it provides opportunity for people not only in the town of Alaminos but from the nearby towns of the first district; people from Bani, Bolinao, Mabini, Burgos, Sual, Infanta, Agno, Dasol, Anda often drop by the library for a little drink of knowledge.
As years passed, Alaminos continues to grow in all spheres of development and so as the departments that provide quality services to the people. This paved the way for the transfer of the municipal library to the vacant 1st floor of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) building on April 1990 to accomodate new departments that were created. In 1993 during the term of Mayor Leon M. Rivera Jr., the Legislative building was constructed using the local government 20% Development Fund as explicitly stated in PD 144. Mayor Rivera approved the budget for the construction of the building, a pet project of then Vice Mayor Eduardo F. Fontelera to house the offices of the Vice Mayor, the Municipal Council and its new session hall. The ground floor was assigned to the municipal library, the location of which is very much accessible to the townsfolk as it is in the heart of the town. |
In 1996, Vice Mayor Fontelera likewise, initiated a move to expand the legislative building to accommodate another vital part of a library- the Audio Visual and Multi Media room which was immediately realized that serve as conference room, caucus and educational film showing.
With its continuous economic growth, on the year 2001, Alaminos was converted into a Component City with the ratification of RA 9025 on March 28, 2001. And as the people prepare themselves for the coming of further growth, the library itself embraces the development schemes in becoming a city by increasing the number of books in order to meet the demands and |
It was during the incumbency of Mayor Eduardo F. Fontelera when the city hall building was constructed on the year 2002 and find a final place of the city library where it is now located.
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the needs of the reading populace. Donations continue to pour in as locals come to be aware of the library’s improvement. This is indeed one of the compelling and clear signs that there’s an urgent need to a more spacious and much bigger appropriate space for the city library to accommodate the increasing number of students and researchers.
When Mayor Eduardo F. Fontelera became a Mayor on the year 1998, he initiated the construction of a new city hall building on the year 2002. His endeavor of contributing for the growth of knowledge through books find a final place for the City Library inside the city hall building . Simultaneous with the inauguration of the new city hall was the blessing and formal opening of the City Library on June 30, 2004.
When Mayor Eduardo F. Fontelera became a Mayor on the year 1998, he initiated the construction of a new city hall building on the year 2002. His endeavor of contributing for the growth of knowledge through books find a final place for the City Library inside the city hall building . Simultaneous with the inauguration of the new city hall was the blessing and formal opening of the City Library on June 30, 2004.
When Mayor Hernani A. Braganza became the mayor of this young and fast progressing city in 2004, the City Library got more than it has expected of the new administration. Mayor Braganza extended the necessary support and assistance that include bigger budget allocation for the purchase of books, library trainings and capability building seminars for the library staff to ensure better services extended to the library goers. |
With the onset of new administration under the stewardship of Mayor Arthur F. Celeste, who assumed his office on July 1, 2013, the new administration is looking for the different phases for the city's development in order to build a model city. Along with these developments is his plan to have a separate library building equipped with state-of art facilities to accommodate the growing number of readers and students populace, a combination of his program to launch a citywide scholarship program. A comprehensive and wide searching scholarship program to ensure that talented and gifted children from poor families can benefit of the continuing education.
In the year 2016, the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved a resolution to transfer back the management of the City Library of Alaminos, under the stewardship of the City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Miguel Y. Perez, to the Sanggunian.
With the Ordinance No. 2021-29 converting the City Library as a section under the Legislative Department to a separate department of the Local Government Unit of the City of Alaminos now under the leadership of City Mayor Arth Bryan C. Celeste. The City Library had seen another opportunity to grow and continue in providing excellent and quality service to its clients, living the tagline of the City "Alaminos City Para sa Lahat: Ituloy and Progreso."
Today, Alaminos City Library is one of the leading public libraries in Region I, as it continue to received citation awards entire region and nationwide.
When the Alaminos Public Library was established and began to operate on the year 1949, Mr. Cesareo Bajit was the very first library custodian and served for 2 years from May 1949 to June 1951. He resigned from his work when his family moved to Sampaloc, Manila. Mr. Benjamin Tamayo took his position as library custodian on July 1951 and eventually, he was appointed as full-pledged municipal librarian on May 1957 when he passed the examination of library assistant, the position which he carried until his retirement from the service.
Mr. Tamayo guided the municipal library during its infancy. It was also the beginning of the municipal library’s major transition—from an era of post-war library to that of modern day library of today.
After serving for more than three decades, Mr. Tamayo retired from government service in 1983, known to be the longest serving librarian of the Alaminos City Library to date. But, he will be best remembered as the librarian who nurtured during its formative stage of development.
Mr. Tamayo’s retirement created a vacuum which was so hard to fill. Nevertheless, on April 19, 1983, Mrs. Rachel D. Palisoc, a young government employee, was designated as junior librarian to sustain what her predecessors has started. Being the first lady librarian, Mrs. Palisoc made some improvements with other facets of library management. Mrs. Palisoc’s stint as junior librarian was short lived since she wanted to pursue her desire to work with the treasury department. She resigned as junior librarian upon being appointed as a Cashier and became the Asst. Treasurer up to the time of her untimely death. |
Mrs. Zenaida C. Romero entered the government in pursuit of public service at first, as Casual Clerk at the Office of the Assessor. And knowing of her expertise in library management for working as School Librarian for 9 years in a private school in Zambales, fate as would have it, she was designated as Acting Librarian and was given a temporary appointment. When she passed the civil service exam in 1987, she was finally issued a permanent status of appointment as municipal librarian.
Aside from continuing what her predecessors had started, Mrs. Romero saw an opportunity to lay down the foundation of a new, modern and better library for the town of Alaminos. Years later, she was appointed Librarian III and accepted the challenge of steering the municipal library to greater heights.
Mrs. Romero is a graduate of Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED) at Luzon Colleges, (now University of Luzon). She went back to school to obtain her masteral studies in library science to further professionalize her work. And so in December 1999, she passed the Licensure Examination for Librarians and on the following year, she was promoted to Librarian IV, which she reciprocated with more hard work, commitment, dedication and the desire to improve the services of the library. She instituted major reforms and embraced new initiatives and systems that would further make the library more accessible, more appealing and well loved by the public. Proven of her dedication and commitment to her profession, she was awarded as one of the most Outstanding Librarian in the year 1989 and 1996 by the Pangasinan Public Librarians Association and Alaminos was awarded as number one Best Library entire the Province. |
When Alaminos achieved its cityhood dream in 2001, the Alaminos Municipal Library was renamed Alaminos City Library (ACL). Along with this name change was Mrs. Romero’s promotion as Librarian V. The city library further strengthened its commitment in meeting the high expectations of the people.
Active in her chosen field, Mrs. Romero was elected as Board of Director of the Association of Public Librarians in the Province in 1995-1997, became the Vice President 2002-2003 and eventually the President of the Pangasinan Public Librarians Association, Inc. in the year 2004-2006. And because of her hard work, dedication, commitment and passion to excel as a good leader, she was twice elected as Board of Director for two consecutive years (1999-2000, 2001-2002) respectively, by the Philippine Public Librarians League, Inc. and acting Vice President year 2002.
Day after day, month after month and year after year, the Alaminos City Library under Mrs. Romero’s leadership remain committed to the ideals of quality, relevant and outstanding service to its general clientele. Every year, ACL continue to receive various donations from philantropist and other benevolent foundations and organization abroad, a testament to their trust and confidence to the management and efficiency of Mrs. Romero as the city librarian.
She received the highest award from the National Library of the Philippines and the Asia Foundation the "Unang Gantimpala" to the 2020 Gawad Parangal sa Natatanging Propesyunal na Tagapangasiwa at Tagapaglingkod ng Pampublikong Aklatan. She retired form the service on July 27, 2020.
Active in her chosen field, Mrs. Romero was elected as Board of Director of the Association of Public Librarians in the Province in 1995-1997, became the Vice President 2002-2003 and eventually the President of the Pangasinan Public Librarians Association, Inc. in the year 2004-2006. And because of her hard work, dedication, commitment and passion to excel as a good leader, she was twice elected as Board of Director for two consecutive years (1999-2000, 2001-2002) respectively, by the Philippine Public Librarians League, Inc. and acting Vice President year 2002.
Day after day, month after month and year after year, the Alaminos City Library under Mrs. Romero’s leadership remain committed to the ideals of quality, relevant and outstanding service to its general clientele. Every year, ACL continue to receive various donations from philantropist and other benevolent foundations and organization abroad, a testament to their trust and confidence to the management and efficiency of Mrs. Romero as the city librarian.
She received the highest award from the National Library of the Philippines and the Asia Foundation the "Unang Gantimpala" to the 2020 Gawad Parangal sa Natatanging Propesyunal na Tagapangasiwa at Tagapaglingkod ng Pampublikong Aklatan. She retired form the service on July 27, 2020.
Mrs. Virgie E. Aquino is the concurrent City Librarian after the retirement of Mrs. Romero. With Mrs. Aquino in the lead, she embodied the tagline of the City, “Alaminos City Para sa Lahat: Ituloy ang Progreso,” continuing the innovative programs and services of the City Library. Together with Vice Mayor Anton Y. Perez, the City Library was converted as a separate department of the Local Government Unit of the City of Alaminos in 2021, now under the leadership of Mayor Arth Bryan C. Celeste.