IFLA Internet Manifesto Train the Trainers Workshop, Manila, Philippines

April 27-28, in Manila was the highly successful beginning of one of three comprehensive FAIFE "train the trainer" projects for 2009.

Lilia Echiverri, President of the Philippines Library Association, Inc., and Prudenciana Cruz, Director of the National Library, opened the two-day session with 18 selected participants from all three regions of the Philippines.  These trainers will, in turn, "echo" their two-day experience in their regions.  The PLAI selected The Internet Manifesto as their project’s curriculum.  The two FAIFE trainers were Barbara Jones, FAIFE Committee Member and Barbara Ford, Director of the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs at the University of Illinois.   
 

The FAIFE learning materials were contextualized by several excellent local speakers.  Professor Edgardo Quiros from the University of the Philippines School of Library and Information Science, spoke about the current role of the Internet in Philippine libraries.  Dr. Noel Ramiscal reviewed the laws and policies regulating Internet access.  Dr. Marilou Tadlip, Library Director for the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, reported on an impact assessment for Mindanao, which the participants will model in their own assessments of the Internet Manifesto project.

The FAIFE team was delighted, but not surprised, to see that the Philippines group is already ahead of schedule.  They have formed teams and selected their local projects.  The FAIFE team will return to the Philippines in November to witness the results, and will visit sites in all three regions.  Further, there will be formal follow-up assessment of the projects so that this work can be replicated in other countries and sustained in the Philippines. A report by workshop organizer and incoming FAIFE Committee member Lilia F. Echiverri can be downloaded: REPORT – PHASE I

In addition to Ms. Echiverri and Ms. Cruz and the excellent speakers, FAIFE wishes to thank Antonio Santos, Director of the Law Library for the University of the Philippines, for acting as Master of Ceremonies and for his support of all our work.