PANABO CITY – Davao del Norte State College (DNSC), through its Learning and Information Resource Center (LIRC), welcomed delegates from Davao del Sur State College (DSSC) for a benchmarking visit aimed at strengthening library systems, sharing innovations, and fostering inter-institutional collaboration.
In her welcome remarks, DNSC Head of Library Services Paulina T. Baba extended her appreciation and warm greetings to the visiting delegation led by Ms. Rosadilla Ging Janson, Director of the Learning Resources Center at DSSC.
“It is with great pleasure that we gather here today for this benchmarking program,” Baba began. “We are truly honored to have all of you, our esteemed visitors, join us as we embark on this journey of learning and collaboration.”
She emphasized the purpose of benchmarking as a “powerful tool for improvement,” noting that the event was designed “to facilitate a fruitful exchange of best practices, allowing us to identify areas for enhancement and collectively strive for excellence.”
Participants from DSSC included librarians and staff from both the main campus and extension campuses. The DNSC team also introduced its library personnel from various academic clusters and functional roles.The highlight of the activity was the information-sharing session led by Ms. Joy S. Llevado and Ms. Leah Christine M. Alvarez, who presented DNSC’s key library initiatives and programs.
“At DNSC, our library is more than just a place for books,” said Llevado. “It is a vibrant hub that supports teaching, learning, and research across our college community. Over time, we’ve developed systems and practices that adapt to the evolving needs of education.”
Alvarez shared the DNSC Library’s outreach and community involvement efforts, particularly their initiatives with Little Panay Elementary School and Southern Davao National High School. “We organized book donation drives to enrich their collections, held film viewings, and distributed simple tokens to remind them that they are part of our journey toward knowledge and community development,” she explained.
In terms of technological innovation, the library integrates barcode scanners during annual inventory and utilizes the KOHA Integrated Library System. “With KOHA, we can manage bibliographic records faster, smarter, and more accurately, making resources easier to find and access,” Alvarez added.
The presenters also highlighted the DNSC Library’s monthly engagement activities, such as exhibits, literacy campaigns, and outreach programs that promote creativity and community participation. Free wireless internet access is also made available to support students and faculty in their research and academic tasks. The visit concluded with an open forum and expression of gratitude from both institutions.
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