by Ramon Miguel Anabo
You know the nostalgic feeling when you get inside the JLDM Library? The old walls, old light fixtures, the smell of books and papers, and the 19th-century vibe, it’s like a blast from the past when there was no internet and we rely on books and the library itself to give us peace of mind and solace. That is the feeling that the JLDM Library is giving us.
John Lawrence Detwiler Memorial Library (JDLM) is like a second home to most of Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP) students. It is a place where students can lounge, pass the time, silently hang out with friends, and most importantly it is where students can study, research, and read in peace. JLDM Library has an interesting history, it was donated by a philanthropist, Dr. Howard Detwiler, who named the library in the memory of his son, John Lawrence Detwiler. He was a student of medicine at the University of Santo Tomas who later, on a post-graduation trip, died in a scuba diving accident in Palawan.
Since the library was established, a lot has changed inside the building. AUP has been constantly developing the facilities inside the building to fit with the current technological advances. From security to find the book you need, everything has been updated. Here are some of the changes we can see inside the library:
LEARNING COMMONS – If you haven’t been to the library this year, you might not have seen this yet. This is a new section in the library called “Learning Commons”, where students, faculty, or staff can study as a group, or rest if they get tired of reading or studying. A pretty neat place especially for students who have vacant time between classes.
Fig. 1 Learning Commons inside the Library
NEW AND IMPROVED SECURITY SYSTEM – Have you noticed that the library visitors don’t have to leave their bags at the baggage counter anymore? That’s because JLDM’s security system has been updated! The library uses a system called Destiny which uses RFID as part of the system. So remember to borrow books the proper way so you don’t get in trouble.
Fig. 2 Improved security system
INTERNATIONAL REPOSITORY and CREATION CENTER – A section of the library where significant historical artifacts and things with historical value related to the university are preserved. This section is not yet finished, but we can enjoy it most likely in the first semester of the next school year (2020-2021, 1st semester).
Fig 3. International Repository
Fig. 4 Creation Center
These are the changes that could be seen inside the library and students seem to enjoy these changes. Of course, there is still a lot of room for improvement, and here are some of the student’s suggestions:
· More Electrical Outlets - The Library should be more “gadget-friendly” in terms of electrical outlets so more students can use their gadgets as an aide for their research and study.
· Better Ventilation – Some students find the Library too hot and “clubbed”.
· Adjust To A Later Closing Time – Some students would like to stay in the library in much later time to study and to do more research.
· Better Internet – The internet available to students can be unreliable at times and the students can do more with better internet.
· A Quieter Atmosphere – some students found it hard to study when there is noise around. Some think that rules can be stricter when it comes to noise for the library to be more conducive for studying.
The JLDM Library staff is doing their best effort to develop our library and as part of their 2020 goal, they aim to innovate and improve the services they offer. And as far as preserving the library, we can just hope that they do a great job at it. If you want to know more about the history of the JLDM Library, you can visit their website at http://jldmlibrary.aup.edu.ph and follow their official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/JLDMlibrary to be updated on events being held inside the library and don’t forget to give them a rating if you have been in the library.
Komentáře