Col. Lib. Bobby D. Cauilan, Director of the University Library and Technology Resource Office (ULTRO), along with Asst. Prof. Arcely Hariramani, joined fellow librarians at the 8th Eastern Visayas Librarians Summit 2026, aiming to enhance Rizal Technological University’s (RTU) library services.
Carrying the theme “Empowering Future-Ready Libraries: Innovation, Inclusion, Assessment, and Community Engagement”, the summit gathered librarians across different regions to discuss the latest innovations and recent updates in the field of Library and Information Science. The three-day event, held on September 2 to 4 at Tanaun, Leyte, featured various discussions focused on elevating library management and services, delivered by expert librarians from across the country.
The first day featured an in-depth discussion and lecture on how to establish, manage, and sustain a book club within the community, urging the participating librarians to open their organizations’ libraries to members of the community, with an enhanced focus on those who highly appreciate books. The recommended practice aims to create and foster deeper appreciation of books and learning materials through social circles encouraged by institutional support.
The second day session opened the discussion on how to remain compliant to government policies and guidelines when weeding out library materials and equipment. Through a meaningful discussion on existing relevant laws and regulations, the practice of removing outdated, irrelevant, and worn-out books and materials was clarified according to the guiding principles provided by relevant government agencies.
The summit also welcomed two research presentations, “The Attributes and Experiences of Librarian Licensure Examination Takers of a State University” by Camille Daño-Serante and “Library Services and Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Selected HEIs: A Phenomenological Inquiry” by Ruby Paet. Both presentations shared meaningful findings which can be utilized and referenced by the participants in elevating their library services.
On the final day, the summit discussed the fundamentals of library assessment and evaluation, and library accreditation standards and processes, providing much-needed information on how to secure compliance with national and international standards in library and information management. A lecture on how to boost the visibility of libraries in the digital era was also discussed, aiming to push libraries to keep up with fast-paced technological advancements while maintaining the relevance of libraries and resource management facilities.
Through Col. Lib. Cauilan and Asst. Prof. Hariramani’s participation in the summit, the RTU library is setting a trajectory towards improvement and heightened presence as the Rizaliano community’s prime source of learning and reference materials. With his active engagement with the librarian community, the ULTRO director is positioning RTU in a strategic stance in enhancing the library’s operation towards a better service for all Rizalianos and the greater academic community.
