Pulilan Municipal Library

The town of Pulilan, known as San Isidro (de Pulilan) during the olden times, is one of the emerging urban centers of Bulacan where many large national company has set up businesses like SM and Robinsons but was able to retain and preserve much of its heritage. It is known for its Kneeling Carabao Festival during May as well as its many heritage structures such as museums, ancestral houses, and a Spanish-era church. One public library serves the information needs of the citizen of this heritage-conscious town, the Pulilan Municipal Library.

Former Pulilan Municipal Hall which houses the present Pulilan Municipal Library.

The library is directly under the Office of the Mayor and the present officer-in-charge is Ms. Salvacion M. Gimeno.


PULILAN MUNICIPAL LIBRARY, THE DUAL LIBRARY
Based on an interview with Ms. Salvacion M. Gimeno,
OIC- Municipal Librarian (2013 - Present)

Pulilan Municipal Library is unique because it is the only dual library among all the public libraries of Bulacan. Dual here means the library functions as a public library while also functioning as an academic library. The library is presently located at the Old Municipal Hall of Pulilan which was turned into Pamantasang Bayan ng Pulilan (PBP) when the Pulilan Government transferred to the new municipal hall. Later, PBP was converted to Polytechnic University of the Philippines Pulilan Campus, and the library stayed with it, catering to the needs of the college's students as well as the general public outside.

Pulilan Municipal Library

The present librarian, Ms. Salvacion Gimeno or Ma'am Salve, started working as the municipal librarian on June 1, 2013 and has been manning the library alone, close to five years as of this writing. She finished her studies in Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Management at PUP Pulilan. She is an active member of Bulacan Public Librarians Association, Inc. and has served as the organization's secretary in the past. Other librarians who has worked in the library in the past were : Dolores Caleon (1989 - 1990), Gloria F. Buñing (1990 - 1991), Marcelina Mutuc (1991 - 1993), Ma. Adora E. Angeles (1993 - 2000, 2001 -2002), Filomena Alcanices (2000), Herbert Rivera (2003), Nicetas R. Roberto (2003 - c. 2010), Jennifer Lopez (c. 2010 - c. 2013).

Bulacaña Collection

Since its establishment in December 28, 1989, the library has stayed in the same location and was closed for a period only on August 2015 when the whole building underwent an overall renovation. According to the librarian, the main reason why this library was established is because of the felt need of an information center where the many students of Pulilan, especially the college students studying at PBP then, could find the information they need for their studies.

The library has also done its responsibility to preserve the local history of the Pulilan. It has a collection of books about Pulilan as well as the different towns and cities of Bulacan. One of its project during National Book Week annually is the exhibit and story telling about the history of all the town's 11 barangays which main objective is to inculcate in the minds of young Pulileños the local history and heritage of their own barangay and town.

To listen to the author's whole interview with Ms. Gimeno, you may go to the Bulacan Provincial Library and ask the librarian there about the ORAL HISTORY OF BULACAN PUBLIC LIBRARIES PROJECT. Transcript of the whole interview is also available on site.