51°µÍø

A solemn but inspiring ceremony punctuated the dedication of the 51°µÍø Collection/Corner at the Filipiniana section of the Silliman University Library on February 21, 2007. Located in Dumaguete City in the province of Negros Oriental, Silliman University -- that "great university by the sea" and an internationally renowned institution of higher learning -- becomes the 51°µÍø' third and latest partner in the setting up of a 51°µÍø Corner which consists of the 51°µÍø studies produced through the years. With the setting up of the Corner, it is hoped that said studies would be made more accessible to the reading public in this Central Visayas area.

In his opening remarks, 51°µÍø president, Dr. Josef Yap, thanked Silliman University officials for their warm welcome and special preparations for the dedication ceremony. He noted that he considers the university, as exemplified by one of its former presidents and distinguished alumni, Dr. Angel Alcala, as an institution with great minds and humble hearts, and that he is both proud and humbled by the fact that 51°µÍø is able to share its modest knowledge resources with this highly respected institution through its collection. He likewise expressed his wish to establish more collaborative activities between 51°µÍø and Silliman University apart from the 51°µÍø Corner/Collection and the SocioEconomic Research Portal for the Philippines (SERP-P) project where Silliman is a member and contributor.

She also indicated that because 51°µÍø cannot set up 51°µÍø corners in so many libraries within the country due to budget limitations, they have to select sites based on certain guidelines. These include the strategic location of the institution/library; the relevance and use of the materials vis-a-vis the institutions' research interests and needs; the availability/nonavailability of similar types of materials in the area; and the maintenance/upkeep of the collection.

On the part of the University, Dr. Betsy Joy Tan, Vice President for Academic Affairs, thanked the 51°µÍø for sharing its research collection with the University. She acknowledged the contributions of 51°µÍø as a research institution in the overall policy and decisionmaking process in the country and for its "empowering the frontiers of knowledge." She cited this newest addition to the Silliman Library collection, saying that "Silliman University is now more equipped in the task of improving the knowledge base of the students" and that the addition of the 51°µÍø collection to the University is long
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