Supreme Court E-Library
Information At Your Fingertips


  View printer friendly version

Source: www.officialgazette.gov.ph

[ PROCLAMATION NO. 227, December 05, 1950 ]

DESIGNATING THE PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 5 TO DECEMBER 31, 1950, FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE “GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY OF THE MODERN PUBLIC LIBRARY MOVEMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES” AND AUTHORIZING THE PHILIPPINE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AND THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES JOINTLY TO SPONSOR THE NATIONAL OBSERVANCE OF THIS EVENT AND TO CONDUCT A NATIONAL LIBRARY DRIVE DURING SAID PERIOD.



WHEREAS, the earliest subscription library in the Philippines organized by the American Circulating Library Association of Manila was first opened to the general public on March 9, 1900;

WHEREAS, the objects of the American Circulating Library Association of Manila in organizing its library were to provide free public library service not only to the United States soldiers and sailors stationed in the Philippines but also to all residents of Manila, whether permanent or transient, and of whatever race or nationality, and to extend that service to the outlying communities in the Philippine Archipelago;

WHEREAS, to insure the stability and proper maintenance, extension and intension of that service, the American Circulating Library Association of Manila, through its Board of Trustees and Executive Board, offered to convey all the interest in its books and other resources, in trust to the Government of the Philippines, the trust to be administered under legislative control by the said government;

WHEREAS, the Philippine Government, through legislative enactment, accepted that generous offer on March 4, 1901;

WHEREAS, the opening of the American Circulating Library of Manila to the general public, its conveyance by its Board of Trustees and Executive Board to, and its official acceptance, in trust, by the Philippine Government, marked the beginning of the modern popular library movement in the Philippines;

WHEREAS, the progress of this movement, totally paralyzed by the devastations of the last war, has received new vigor and impetus. through generous rehabilitation aids from the American people and the enactment of progressive public library laws, in general recognition of the potent role of public libraries in popular education and the enhancement of democratic culture and international understanding among our people; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the fiftieth anniversary of this movement be nationally observed, beginning with the celebration of the National Book Week, so that the significance of this far reaching event in this country may be clearly understood and preserved in the memory of our people;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Elpidio Quirino, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the authority vested in me by law, do hereby designate the period from December 5 to December 31, 1950, as the period of the “Golden Anniversary of the Modern Public Library Movement in the Philippines,” and authorize the Philippine Library Association and the Bureau of Public Libraries jointly to sponsor the celebration of this memorable event and to conduct a national library drive during the said period. I call upon all citizens and residents of the Philippines whatever race, nationality or creed to join in this national celebration and to assist in the national library drive by giving generously, so that the usefulness of public libraries in the promotion of popular education, democratic ideals, and international understanding among our people may be further enhanced. I authorize all the treasurers of provincial, city and municipal governments as well as public library officials to accept, for the Philippine Library Association and the Bureau of Public Libraries, voluntary contributions and donations in the form of cash or publications and to issue official receipts therefor.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 5th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and fifty, and of the Independence of the Philippines, the fifth.

ELPIDIO QUIRINO
President of the Philippines

By the President:

TEODORO EVANGELISTA
Executive Secretary

 

© Supreme Court E-Library 2019
This website was designed and developed, and is maintained, by the E-Library Technical Staff in collaboration with the Management Information Systems Office.