Cebu City Public Library, R.I.P.

The Cebu City Public Library (aka Rizal Memorial Library), 69, is dead.

All because of the skewed perspective of some of our officials and so-called education consultants.

Before the distorted perspective (e.g. putting up a museum, library hubs, and satellite libraries as "alternatives" to the city library) came the lame excuse for the closure of the city library: resources have been dwindling and users have become scarce. This alibi is simply outrageous. If Naga City can modernize its city library; if Butuan City can invest in a new building and triple its public library's visitors and users; if Davao City can develop an outstanding learning space that is its public library; I do not see why the proud Queen City of the South can not.

Fellow blogger Mindanao Librarian scores further the absurdity of such decision to close down Cebu City's public library. I am sure other librarians and reader development advocates share her lamentations. I am also sure others, not to mention a good section of Cebu City's community, are even more outraged by this development.

I echo the same grief and indignation. But I fear more the immediate repercussions. I cross my fingers (and toes!) other LGU's (especially in my own locality) will not look up to the folly of their counterparts in Cebu City and take this as an example of good governance.