Alice Santos Paraiso: A Silent Warrior Librarian
by Melchor F. Cichon
"...it is more fun working in libraries and I love what I am doing."
These words came from one of the most successful librarians in the Philippines today.
I am referring to Mrs. Alice Santos-Paraiso, a librarian, a mother, and a leader.
Alice as she is fondly called by her friends and colleagues was born in Hagonoy, Bulacan, on October 22, 1952. She passed away on March 23, 2018.
She received her elementary and secondary education at St. Anne's Academy in her birthplace. After this, she enrolled at the University of the East, Manila, where she took up Bachelor of Science in Education, majoring in Library Science, and minoring in Pilipino.
By this time, she was already working at the University of the Philippines Library in Diliman, Quezon City.
When the Post Graduate Training Course for Science Information Specialist in Southeast Asia (PGTCSIS) opened in the U.P. Institute of Library Science (UPILS), now known as the School of Library and Information Studies, she was chosen as one of the lucky trainees. This program was sponsored by United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UPILS and Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Before she became the Head Librarian of Goethe-Institut Philippinen, she worked as a Library Assistant, then later as Research Assistant at the University of the Philippines doing readers and reference services, indexing of magazines and newspapers, and some cataloging and classification jobs. After her stint in U.P., she transferred to Technology Resource Center (TRC) in Makati City where she worked as a librarian. Of course, her duties widened and that included managing the whole library and doing all aspects of library work from acquisition of materials, cataloging and classification and readers service. She now experienced doing Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) service of the company and in-charge of the computerization of the Patent DataBase and contributing to the Philippine National Bibliography.
Now she was ready for a higher responsibility. And when the opportunity came, she grabbed it. This time it was in Lagos, Nigeria. She applied as a librarian at the National Library of Nigeria, Lagos, Nigeria.
And was accepted.
She worked there doing research and documentation of the National Library of Nigeria, aside from being Assistant Editor of the Newsletter of the National Library of Nigeria, from 1981 to 1983.
But the longing for home came.
So she went home.
In 1985, she was employed as a part-time librarian of Goethe-Institut Philippinen Library, Salcedo Village, Makati City. After a year she became full-time librarian and when the German librarian went on retirement, she then became the Head Librarian.
And while she works in this German library she was also very much involved in Philippine librarianship.
She was elected as the president of the Association of Special Libraries of the Philippines (ASLP).
Along with her involvement in ASLP, she served as resource person or participant in many seminar-workshops and conferences not only in the Philippines but also abroad like Germany, the United States, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.
To know more about Alice, here is part of my online interview with her.
Melchor F.Cichon (MFC): What made you decide to take up LS and stayed on it until now?
Alice Santos Paraiso (ASP): Well, after high school I wanted to take up architecture but it was my mother who introduced me to library science, because at that time, one of our relatives was a librarian at the Central Bank of the Philippines.
So without knowing what will be my job after graduation and what is library science all about, I adhered to what my mother told me.
Wondering aloud, I said to myself: "Oh I will work in a library where all the books are locked inside the cabinet with glass door-- our high school library was like that."
But then when I saw a university library, I was surprised that the shelves were open and not locked. So my perspective on what library work was all about was drastically changed.
Summer vacation, and had nothing to do at home, I decided to look for some part time job.
I checked the classified ads of the newspapers and I found one which I thought I would like it. So I applied and I was called for an interview. I found out, however, that the job was for sales representative. This is not the kind of job for me, so I declined it.
Since, we were staying at the UP Campus, my father told me to apply at the UP Main Library. So I applied and I was accepted as a library assistant provided that I would continue with my studies. I only had one year to finish my bachelor degree.
I became a working student - working from 7:30am to 4:30 pm, then I had to travel to Manila (Univ. of the East) for my 6 p. m. class. At that time, traffic was not a problem and there were buses inside the Campus going to Manila. All those studying in Manila would leave the Main Library before 5 p. m. to catch up with the evening classes.
While working as a library assistant, I found out that there is more fun working in the library.
I have experienced working in different types of libraries for the past 43 years.
My first experience as an undergraduate student was in a University Library. After 5 years, I transferred to a Special Library (Technology Resource Center). Then, I got an offer at the National Library of Nigeria and I worked there for three years. And in 1985, I was accepted at the Goethe-Institut until my retirement in May 2014.
Why I stayed on this until now? It is more fun working in libraries and I love what I am doing.
The work we do is important and not boring. You get to know/meet so many people with different personalities and backgrounds. There is always something new to learn, something new idea to consider. We are surrounded by the world of ideas and we get to help students and researchers to find their way in and out of this world of ideas. It is so fulfilling, encouraging when you are able to help them through their assignments and put together their research papers. These students are very grateful for our help.
We are not just libraries and librarians, we have great role in the preservation of culture for the future generations. We developed skills in the process like - attention to details, eagerness to learn new things, interpersonal and communication skills, adaptability to new technologies, willingness to serve with a smile, patience and a happy disposition at all times.
MFC: What is your greatest accomplishment in and out of librarianship?
ASP: First, I consider it as a great accomplishment when students and researchers are very grateful for whatever help I have been extending to them. When I can see the materials they are looking for in just a click, that's an accomplishment.
I was the first Filipino who became the Head Librarian of the Goethe-Institut. The head librarian of the Institut has always been a German national.
My other great accomplishment is when I became the President of the Association of Special Libraries of the Philippines in 2012. It was also during my time as president that the whole (12 members) of the ASLP Board went on a “Group Study Tour of Libraries, Museums and Archives in the Federal Republic of Germany”. It was an immense thought to have visited seventeen (17) various institutions consisting of libraries, museums, archives and conservation/preservation center in 10 days in Germany. And as what one of the Board Members said “Germany – a country where buildings were built for the libraries and where librarians are essential.”
This was sponsored by the Bibliothek & Information International (BII) and the Goethe-Institut Philippinen.
Another great accomplishment I have had was when I was elected Treasurer of the Special Libraries Association, Asian Chapter for 2014.
I also consider as my greatest accomplishment when I got to see seminarians became priests through prayers, masses, financial and moral support. I am also helping the old, sick and retired diocesan priests through the Ephesus Foundation “One with Mary caring for Priests” whenever I am able to.
But my greatest and most important accomplishment was to have a family with a lovely and pretty daughter, Gloria S. Paraiso,
MFC: Do you have any other comments?
ASP: Today, libraries are not only about information, it is a place where people meet together to discuss great ideas and people have the tools and facilities to develop these ideas into concrete projects. A haven for study and research, library is an access point and distribution center for print and electronic information. The library should be a place where people will be inspired, surprised and empowered.
That's Alice Santos Paraiso, the successful Filipino silent warrior librarian.
