Jan 13, 2008

Thank You Letter from UP-Mindanao to UPAA-SD

Dear UPAA-SD members,

cc: Book Donations Project Team Leaders: Zeny Ply, Jimmie Sober

We are pleased to announce that the 2007 Book Donations Project was a success! We were able to confirm that the 1000+ books that we shipped to UP Mindanao, at a cost of about $1,500 - $2,000, were received in usable condition, and that the books are useful to the students, staff and faculty members of the UP Mindanao community.

The UP Mindanao Library extends its thanks to all UPAA-SD members who collected books, sorted and packed them for shipping to UP Mindanao, and to all members and friends who supported the project through donations and attendance in our fundraising events, such as the Fabulous 50's Dinner/Dance Event last November, 2007.

Here is the letter from UP Mindanao, containing details about the donated books that they received, the beneficiaries who are benefitting from UPAA-SD's donation, and UP Minadano's suggestions for future partnership projects with the UPAA-SD.

Please let Zeny, Jimmie or me know if you need more information.


Respectfully submitted,
Carlos Dequina
619 788 8995


****************************


Madayaw and Happy NewYear po!

In behalf of the UP Mindanao University Library, i am responding to your
email, to provide confirmation as well as answers to your project
evaluation questionnaire.

1. Contact: Dr. Gilda C. Rivero-Chancellor, University of the Philippines
Mindanao/Dr. Briccio M. Merced, Jr. -University Librarian
Address: Main Library, UP Mindanao, Mintal, Tugbok District, Davao City 8000
Philippines.
Phone # : (082) 293-0420
Email: brix_merced2001@yahoo.com

2. Please describe the shipment of boxes that you received from the
University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Diego County
(UPAA-SD)
-how many boxes, approximately how many books in each box, and were the
books in usable condition?

Answer : For 2007, a total of twenty one (21) boxes of books were received
by UP Mindanao and these were directly sent to the University Library. The
2x3x4 inches boxes on the average, contains 50 to 70 volumes. The books
were in very usable condition.

3. Please evaluate the project which UPAA-SD can use to measure the success
of the project by sharing your insights on the following topics. Please
provide narrative and/or statistics on the following :


a. Were the books received by the intended beneficiaries, i.e. the UP
Mindanao Library, and the community of students, men, and women of UP
Mindanao?
Answer : Yes, the UP Mindanao Library received the first shipment of books
which were mostly literature books and also the 2nd shipment which were
books in psychology, self-help, and education.There were few titles too in
the field of management and economics. And some general reference
materials such as directories, yearbooks and handbooks.

b. What are the names of individuals or groups that benefited from the
book donations?
If possible, please provide interview excerpts and feedback
from the beneficiaries of the donations.
Answer : The University Main Library and its 3 college libraries namely :
Humanities and Social Sciences Library, Science and Mathematics Library and
School of Management Library were the recipients of your book donations.

c. How were the books distributed to the intended beneficiaries?
Answer : The books contained in the boxes were received by the University
Main Library Acquisition Section. These were sorted out based on the needs
of each college library, then appropriately assigned them with accession
inventory numbers. After which, the books were packed and sent to the
respective libraries.

d. How did these individuals benefit from the book donations?
Answer : The UP Mindanao constituents : students, faculty, administrators,
staff and researchers benefited a lot from your donations by using them as
reference sources for their research reports, assignments, special projects,
theses, etc.

e. Were the books appropriate for the intended beneficiaries in your
community?
Were the books useful or were they out-of-date?
Answer : Yes, your donations of books on literature and psychology went
to the Humanities and Social Sciences Library. While titles in the fields of
management and economics went to the School of Management Library. And a
few books in nursing and computer science went to the College of Science and
Mathematics Library

Basically, in developing our library collection, we based it on the
following Academic Programs (course offerings) of the University :

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

- BA
English
- BA
Anthropology
- BA Communication
Arts
- BA
Architecture


College of Science and Mathematics

- Bachelor of Science in Applied
Mathematics
- Bachelor of Science in
Biology
- Bachelor of Science in Food
Technology
- Bachelor of Science in Computer
Science

*
School of Management
*Bachelor of Arts in Agribusiness and Economics
** *Diploma and Master of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning
** *Master in Management


*4. Were any steps taken to ensure that no books were diverted to people who
are not intended beneficiaries (e.g., loss while being processed for
receiving and cataloging, etc?)
Please describe the precautions that you
took to achieve this goal.
Answer : The University Library Acquisition Section ensures that no books
will be diverted to non-beneficiaries. This is how your donations are being
processed :

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES MINDANAO LIBRARY*
*
*he Philippines in Mindanao Library*
5. Please provide your opinion regarding whether the UPAA-San Diego was
successful, through this Book Donation Project, in being able to develop
professional ties with the UP Mindanao community.
Answer : We believe this is a successful project for the UPAA-San Diego
since this initiative promotes spirit of loyalty and generosity. It
significantly shows the strength and sustainability of the ties that bind
between the alma mater and its alumni. And U.P. Mindanao as it is still in
her growing stage, is so privileged to be a recipient of such benevolence
and goodwill.


6. Please suggest additional philanthropic partnerships which can be
developed between UPAA-SD and UP Mindanao
Answer : We may suggest that if your association would consider a project
on sponsoring 1.) UP Mindanao Library Building, for it is our ultimate
dream as offering to the UP Centennial celebration. 2.) security detectors
for the UP Mindanao Library. Since the Library has already automated all its
collections-these are all barcoded, could be accessed online and yet the
problem of lost materials is still inevitable. The library materials could
easily be carried out from the Library because there is no security
detector to control them. 3.) Scholarships for our Library staff to further
professionally.


7. Please suggest ways to improve this activity in the future. All comments
are welcome and appreciated.
Answer : We would like to suggest that you may based your book donations on
the abovementioned academic programs, most especially in the fields of
science and mathematics, because the number of collections is still very
small and it is insufficient to cater the needs specifically of the Food
Technology, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Biology students.


We are hoping that we were able to appropriately answer your project
evaluation questions.


Thank you very very much for the kind efforts you continually extended to UP
Mindanao.


With wishes and prayers that you be richly blessed as you keep on sharing
the bounties to others too.


GODBLESS and More Power to UPAA-SD!!!


Peaceful and Productive 2008 to all of us!




Truly for UP Mindanao,


Merlyn L. Mercadera
College Librarian I