GENERAL SANTOS CITY — In an effort to increase public awareness of the city’s history, the local government has established a gallery and a mini-museum at the newly-renovated city public library.
Vice Mayor Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles on Monday led the formal unveiling of the city library’s newest feature, dubbed as the “GenSan Corner Gallery”.
Nograles said the “GenSan Corner” is a repository of information materials that depict the area’s history and development from a quiet settlement to a highly-urbanized city.
“It is a gallery and at the same time, a mini-museum within the library,” the vice mayor said.
Nograles said anything that one wants to learn about the city can be found in the “GenSan Corner” — books written by local authors, historical artifacts, and a compilation of the accomplishments of local achievers.
It also has a portrait of the city’s founder, Gen. Paulino Santos, mayors, and other pioneers of the city, she said.
Nograles said the local government has strived to improve the city public library in the past few years to ensure that the next generation can take advantage of the facility.
“It is important for the progress and development of the society. Our library has gone a long way and what we have seen right now is a testimony that indeed we have a strong community support here in the city,” she said.
Since its establishment 15 years ago, the city library has continually expanded and is now home to a collection of more than 5,000 books.
Its rehabilitation and improvement was among the top projects identified by the local government, which has launched donation campaigns for books and financial assistance. Among its top donors was former senator Manny Villar, who helped facilitate the release of a PHP2-million grant for the library.
Last year, the local government extended the library’s operating hours until midnight during weekdays to accommodate more clients.
Plans are underway for the construction of a two-story building that will host the library’s extension and a coffee shop. (PNA)
