The University Librarian, Mr. Ronaldo P. Sumait, joined the pool of more than a thousand professional librarians across the country for the Annual National Congress 2017 with the theme “Libraries Take Action: Providing Access and Opportunity for All”. The said assembly conducted by the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI) in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) through the National Committee on Libraries and Information Services (NCLIS) and the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) was held at the SMX Convention Center Bacolod, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental last November 21-24, 2017.

The three-day fruitful endeavor aimed to: a) understand the UN 2030 Agenda and the role of libraries in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); b) recognize the role of libraries as agents of knowledge development through the implementation of various information literacy programs and providing open access to information and communication technologies (ICTs); c) identify strategies on how libraries can be venues of community development through partnership and collaboration with the different stakeholders of society; d) engage libraries, archives, and other heritage institutions in safeguarding cultural heritage in all its diverse forms; e) advocate the roles of librarians and library associations as key players for social change through capacity building and professional agenda.

During the parallel sessions, Mr. Sumait linked with the Librarians from the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and discussed substantial matters – particularly the preparation of common documents, records and exhibits – during the conduct of series of accreditations. Moreover, the group deliberated the benefits and advantages of the possible establishment of partnerships and collaborations in terms of building library resources – both print and online –