By Christian Edu Villegas
(Vol. XXVII No. 27, Editorial Cartoon)
Library blues
At the start of the second semester, various offices and sectors in Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) were disconcerted upon hearing the news that the number of student assistants (SA) was trimmed down due to the meager funds of the Student Government (SG). One of the sectors that was badly affected by the reduction of the number of SAs is the university library – from 17, it went down to 12.
In effect, this has led to various burdens on the part of the library goers. Aside from the fact that they cannot be accommodated easily because of the lack of SAs to attend to their needs, there is also no guarantee that valuables left at the baggage counter will be strictly guarded. Most of the time, because of lack of SAs, the baggage counter is left unattended.
University Librarian Pablita Munar apparently blames the problem to the decreased number of SAs assigned in the library this semester. Munar pointed out that with the current number of SAs, they cannot handle their work well.
Munar’s claim is indeed true. The poor service of the library is the result of the scarcity of manpower. With only few SAs hired this semester for the library, more work is pelted on the remaining SAs; they cannot maximize their assigned tasks because new errands are to be accomplished, thus leading to stacks of pending works. Also, considering the number of library goers, the 12 SAs would surely find it difficult to accommodate all the students flocking, especially during the examination week. Moreover, it should also be considered that SAs are students, too, and they cannot devote all of their time to the library.
In defense, Student Government of Dumaguete City I (SGDCI) President Christopher Don Catacutan answered that the SG should not be blamed for the problems that the library is currently suffering. Catacutan said that before the second semester started, he already informed the university librarian that they will be decreasing the number of SAs assigned in the area because of meager funds. Thus, according to him, it is already the librarian’s full responsibility to look forward to its consequences. Catacutan opined that Munar should have screened well the SA applicants so that she can set the SA’s vacant time for duty. He asserted that hiring SAs is only one of their projects and that they cannot spend the entire SG fund for the said project.
On that note, Catacutan is right. Funding SAs in various offices is only one of their projects, and they also have other projects to attend to. With their insufficient funds, it is only right that they will hire less SAs – for if they will still hire more, they will suffer the consequences like that of the previous administration’s where some SAs were unpaid.
Looking at the problems currently suffered by the library, both parties are right in defending their sides. Munar was right in saying that the poor service of the library is because of the SAs number reduction. Catacutan is also right in saying that the blame should not be put to them because they are only hiring SAs according to their available funds.
With both parties being right, so what now? Will the library problems remain as they are? Having no one to bear the blame, will the library’s poor service continue? The school year is already ending, will these problems continue to haunt until next school year?
Looking for appropriate solutions to the problem may seem out of reach, but if well planned and deliberated, it will lead to impressive results. Maybe, it is now time for the university administration to start thinking of hiring more full-time personnel in the library so that its manpower will not largely depend on its SAs. Also, it is now time for the next SG administration to start assessing that in the coming school year, they must regulate their unnecessary projects like pageant and beautification, allocate more funds in hiring SAs, and assign more SAs especially in the library, because it is an important spot – being the avenue for learning – for most Norsunians.
The library is a very important tool for Norsunians. Its problems go to the students as burden. May authorities work together to put up a worry-free and efficient NORSU library.
At the start of the second semester, various offices and sectors in Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) were disconcerted upon hearing the news that the number of student assistants (SA) was trimmed down due to the meager funds of the Student Government (SG). One of the sectors that was badly affected by the reduction of the number of SAs is the university library – from 17, it went down to 12.
In effect, this has led to various burdens on the part of the library goers. Aside from the fact that they cannot be accommodated easily because of the lack of SAs to attend to their needs, there is also no guarantee that valuables left at the baggage counter will be strictly guarded. Most of the time, because of lack of SAs, the baggage counter is left unattended.
University Librarian Pablita Munar apparently blames the problem to the decreased number of SAs assigned in the library this semester. Munar pointed out that with the current number of SAs, they cannot handle their work well.
Munar’s claim is indeed true. The poor service of the library is the result of the scarcity of manpower. With only few SAs hired this semester for the library, more work is pelted on the remaining SAs; they cannot maximize their assigned tasks because new errands are to be accomplished, thus leading to stacks of pending works. Also, considering the number of library goers, the 12 SAs would surely find it difficult to accommodate all the students flocking, especially during the examination week. Moreover, it should also be considered that SAs are students, too, and they cannot devote all of their time to the library.
In defense, Student Government of Dumaguete City I (SGDCI) President Christopher Don Catacutan answered that the SG should not be blamed for the problems that the library is currently suffering. Catacutan said that before the second semester started, he already informed the university librarian that they will be decreasing the number of SAs assigned in the area because of meager funds. Thus, according to him, it is already the librarian’s full responsibility to look forward to its consequences. Catacutan opined that Munar should have screened well the SA applicants so that she can set the SA’s vacant time for duty. He asserted that hiring SAs is only one of their projects and that they cannot spend the entire SG fund for the said project.
On that note, Catacutan is right. Funding SAs in various offices is only one of their projects, and they also have other projects to attend to. With their insufficient funds, it is only right that they will hire less SAs – for if they will still hire more, they will suffer the consequences like that of the previous administration’s where some SAs were unpaid.
Looking at the problems currently suffered by the library, both parties are right in defending their sides. Munar was right in saying that the poor service of the library is because of the SAs number reduction. Catacutan is also right in saying that the blame should not be put to them because they are only hiring SAs according to their available funds.
With both parties being right, so what now? Will the library problems remain as they are? Having no one to bear the blame, will the library’s poor service continue? The school year is already ending, will these problems continue to haunt until next school year?
Looking for appropriate solutions to the problem may seem out of reach, but if well planned and deliberated, it will lead to impressive results. Maybe, it is now time for the university administration to start thinking of hiring more full-time personnel in the library so that its manpower will not largely depend on its SAs. Also, it is now time for the next SG administration to start assessing that in the coming school year, they must regulate their unnecessary projects like pageant and beautification, allocate more funds in hiring SAs, and assign more SAs especially in the library, because it is an important spot – being the avenue for learning – for most Norsunians.
The library is a very important tool for Norsunians. Its problems go to the students as burden. May authorities work together to put up a worry-free and efficient NORSU library.
No comments:
Post a Comment