Davao City – The Davao City Library and Information Center (DCLIC) has reported a surge in foot traffic, welcoming a total of 124,826 visitors from January to April this year, a testament to the growing interest in public learning spaces and accessible information services in the city.
In an interview over Davao City Disaster Radio, Children’s Librarian Genevieve Tagudin shared that the library has also seen an increase in guided tours, with 33 scheduled group visits drawing 1,904 individuals — including guests from outside the city.
“Even those who live outside Davao City come to tour our library because they say our facility is impressive. Not all public libraries in the Philippines are as well-designed as ours,” Tagudin said.
Beyond daily visits, DCLIC has also welcomed more than 4,000 new members in the first quarter of the year. The library received 4,204 donated books and 250 magazines, which have been distributed to barangay reading centers throughout the city to further promote community-based literacy.
Tagudin also encouraged donations of board games, saying that while the library has a budget for such materials, additional contributions would allow the resources to reach district libraries as well. “Hopefully we receive more donations, including board games. It helps us share more with our district libraries,” she added.
Currently, the library operates from Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but will temporarily open on weekends in line with the city’s Duaw Davao celebration.
Committed to fostering literacy and learning, DCLIC continues to provide vital services such as internet access, book lending, and guided educational programs. In 2024, the library logged a total of 358,000 visitors, an increase from 301,000 in 2023, indicating a steady rise in engagement from the public.
Dabawenyos interested in visiting the DCLIC can head to 203 C. Bangoy Street, Barangay 34-D, Poblacion District, Davao City. For more information, they may contact (082) 285-5599.