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CPU Library launches ‘Chat Bertha’ VRS
NO VOICE UNHEARD
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Z H A R I N A M A R I E S T E P H A N I E P. L U G O
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o accommodate the information needs of the Centralian community during these times, Henry Luce III Library launched “Chat Bertha,” one of the latest components of the library’s Virtual Reference Services(VRS) on Facebook. According to College of Law Librarian and Centralian Cataloger Allana Delgado, “Bertha” was originally an idea by Library Director Ma. Cynthia Peleña and has been on the works even before the pandemic. “Her idea was to have a ‘virtual library assistant’ that can cater to information needs online,” Delgado said. She further stated that Bertha was inspired by Ana Bertha Houger, the University’s first American librarian who served from 1910-1940. “Our Director thought that it would be a good idea for the library assistant to be inspired by her to also pay tribute to CPU History,” she said. Delgado also emphasized that even though virtual library assistants are not new, Henry Luce III was the first university library and CPU the first university in Western Visayas to adopt a virtual service with an ‘avatar’ represented by Bertha. “To our surprise, Bertha would become popular with our students and she has even inspired fan art. Eventually, people even started to ‘ship’ her with Graciano, the library VA of West Visayas State University,” she shared, adding how the official hashtag and ship name “#GraBe” became trending online. “We just decided to go with the flow, created a story-line, and Bertha
eventually became more than just a virtual chat service - it was as if she became a full-blooded character that people could relate to.” Delgado said. Prior to Bertha’s launch, librarians had to undergo series of trainings on conducting online services. “Actually, the ones answering questions are our librarians, and we have a schedule for those who are assigned as ‘Bertha’ for each day. We held a series of training for the librarians on conducting online services before launching Bertha last June 2020. Dr. Reysa Alenzuela, our library consultant and also a professor for the Graduate School helped and trained us,” Delgado said. To contain information about the library and provide a link to open access resources on the internet, http:// library.cpuedu.ph, the library’s website was also updated. Delgado also said that they subscribe to online databases such as ProQuest and eLibraryUSA to provide users with the information they needed even they are at home. “When CPU was closed to students due to the pandemic, the library initiated this service for the students and the Centralian community to connect to the library and use our resources even when they can’t visit us physically. Bertha is only one part of the Virtual Reference Services or what we called VRS,” Delgado said, adding, “Aside from Chat Bertha, we also have scanning services, online resources, and webinars.” Furthermore, Delgado shared that the library is planning to expand
LUKE ISAIAH S. ISMAEL
its online platforms. For their next project, they plan to establish an online digital repository for the university’s publications and research. She also said that they had dealt a massive number of requests when Bertha was introduced in the online Library Orientation. During those peak times, they assigned more people to man the chat service. With feedbacks and their experiences in the virtual plain, they are continuing to learn and adjust the service. Delgado had also highlighted the benefits and advantages that Bertha can offer to Centralians. “Since most of our students, faculty, and researchers are on Facebook, we try to go where our users are. Bertha makes it easier for them to contact the library if they are already on social media. ‘Bertha’ is also easy to recall. For those who prefer e-mail, we also set up a new e-mail address for information inquiries (berthahll@cpu. edu.ph),” she said.
Lugo is Champion in CORE National Youth Summit 2020 Essay Writing Contest BY YUSIMAY V. HABLADO AND KATHLEEN E . FRUGALIDAD
THE CENTRAL ECHO
Zharina Marie Stephanie Lugo, a 3rd year BA Political Science and Public Administration student of Central Philippine University was awarded Champion during the CORE National Youth Summit 2020 Essay Writing contest with the theme, “Angat Probinsya, Angat Pamilya.” Representing Region VI, Lugo came out on top among all other participants from different universities across the country, with Sydney Joseph Torrenueva from Region 5 as 1st Runnerup and Israel Portugal from CAR as the 2nd Runner-up. According to Lugo, “Without COVID-19, I think the experience would be better but this year’s Virtual CORE Youth Summit 2020 was honestly an amazing and new experience to all of us.” When asked about the challenges she encountered in the process of winning the award, she said that during the lockdown, she had been busy applying to virtual leadership training and online writing competitions. She
shared that she had been rejected by most of the programs and that it made her felt “drained.” “The challenge was keeping myself motivated and strong despite these tides of disappointment smashing my head. I never expected to receive this laurel and now I’ve realized that the whole process was a blessing in disguise from God,” Lugo added. Furthermore, she expressed her love and gratitude to the people who believed in her and supported her throughout her journey, “Love and gratitude to our God Almighty, who placed me in institutions and organizations that enriched my ideas and thoughts,” she said, adding “I would
like to express my love and gratitude to all of you for transforming me into someone I thought I could never be.” This Constitutional Reform (CORE) National Summit 2020 is an avenue where young people could express their thoughts and ideas through debate competition, digital painting, songwriting, essay writing, and doing Tiktok challenges. Lugo was virtually awarded via the CORE Philippines Facebook page last November 23. Lugo was the former Editor-inChief of the Central Echo and currently the Associate editor of the same publication.
