COINCIDING WITH THE official declaration of San Beda University (SBU) as a Laudato Si’ campus last October 4, the SBU Library, located at the Lydia Tan Sy Building, introduced a new set of resources dedicated to Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment.
The Assistant Coordinator of Libraries, Ms. Rosalinda Robles, R.L., along with the Head of the SBU Library, Ms. Jennifer Comabig, M.A.Ed.- LS, R.L., gave a general tour through the exhibit. The library’s part in the program was to display its resources “that includes the periodical collections, our print collections regarding Laudato Si. That is caring for the environment and caring for our home,” Ms. Robles shared. These collections “will be put to good use,” she attested, as they will be used as a resource of information by both students and faculty.
Accordingly, these resources that have been put on display along the corridor of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) library have been long launched prior. The Laudato Si’ declaration simply just “became a catalyst” as to its awareness. Ms. Comabig added that since SBU is now a “Laudato Si’ University,” its theme will be integrated in the curriculum, so the resources presented may be used for assignments, projects, and research.
Aside from the new learning resource exhibit, the campus library staff had their own self-implemented policies within their workplace. These plans were an effort to become one with the University in adopting to theme, Laudato Si’, through tree planting and bringing in indoor and outdoor plants.
Some of the other practices being implemented in the library were shutting off the air conditioners 30 minutes or an hour before closing time and a single-tumbler, zero single-use plastics regimen. Each staff member has their own personal tumbler so as not to purchase bottled water.
Moreover, aside from a stricter segregation of waste, the library has also opted for a paperless form of information dissemination of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ by utilizing the smart TVs. Papers that are not in use will be shredded.
On another note, Ms. Robles shared the reason for the location of their exhibit outside of the library, near the bridge at the third floor. “Instead of here [inside the library] kasi parang medyo crowded and maliit, [around the exhibit] daanan e ‘di ba? Parang ‘yun ‘yung way mo na makikita nila na “Oh, what’s going on there?” she explained.
This project was a joint effort that came from the collective creativity that emerged from the planning until the implementation of the event. “Actually, this Laudato Si’ is for seven years, this will end on 2030 pa,” Ms. Robles said. Laudato Si’ is only the first part of the Pope’s letter, so the staff had fun with the idea of having another project to plan. However, as long as the Bedan community will need them, the members of the library staff will “always be there.”