KNOWN for welcoming people of all ages and backgrounds, libraries across the Commonwealth are inviting the community to join the celebration of National Library Week and National Library Outreach Day.
On Tuesday, National Library Workers Day, representatives from the libraries on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, along with CNMI and other officials and community members, gathered at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library in Susupe to kick off the celebration with a proclamation-signing ceremony.
Opening remarks were given by Commonwealth Library Council Treasurer Charles Villagomez Cepeda, followed by an inspirational message by Latte Built Fitness and Nutrition owner Derek Cutting.
“I believe that with a little self-education and some willpower, anyone can change their health for the better,” Cutting said. “It’s never too late. Across the nation, public libraries are filled with all types of novels. Many serve as locations for exercise, health information, as well as public health services, often partnering with local health agencies. Today, Latte Built has committed to collaborating with Joeten-Kiyu [Public] Library to offer anyone information on fitness, proper nutrition, and healthy lifestyle choices.”
Three proclamations were each read by a CNMI youth in honor of National Library Week, National Library Outreach Day, and National Library Workers Day.
18th CNMI Youth Congress Senator Easton Joel C. Dela Cruz from Marianas High School read the proclamation for National Library Week, which began on Sunday, April 3 and will end on Saturday, April 9.
18th CNMI Youth Congress Floor Leader Yurihana DLG Sasamoto from Mount Carmel School read the proclamation celebrating April 6 as National Library Outreach Day.
For her part, first daughter Vaniqa T. Torres of Grace Christian Academy read the proclamation to honor Tuesday as National Library Workers Day.
Governor Torres, for his part, said, “I encourage everyone to take advantage of the wonderful library resources available from the library, brought directly to you by innovative efforts.”
Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez also encouraged the CNMI community, including the children and youth, to connect with their local libraries.
Library Director Erlinda C. Naputi, who has been with the library system for three decades now, highlighted the collective efforts of the teams in each of the libraries on Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
Moved to tears, Naputi commended the CNMI library staff for their hard work.
“I can attest that we have a really strong team and I dedicate all of these accomplishments that we’ve [had] to my team,” she added.
“We’ve been through so many obstacles — typhoons, the pandemic, personal matters, but we picked up and we’re here and we’re still surviving. I can say that each one of us here shares the same passion in serving our community. It’s always service above self, so that’s what gets us going every day. We love to see patrons walking out with a smile. We love to see kids coming in and looking for books or looking for a story to read, and [we love to see] the smiles that they give us, the smiles that they have when they walk out [of the library]. That’s what gets us by every day. That’s what keeps us going… That’s what inspires us to do better and to do even more for our community. Every person that comes into this library, we treat them with respect and we make them feel at home. That’s how we get by. That’s the spirit that the team here has and that’s the spirit that keeps us going every day regardless of the situation that we face.”
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, third left, signs a proclamation in honor of the nation’s libraries.
Latte Built owner Derek Cutting delivers his remarks.
Vaniqa T. Torres of Grace Christian Academy reads the proclamation for National Library Workers Day.
Youth Congress Floor Leader Yurihana DLG Sasamoto of Mount Carmel School reads the proclamation for National Library Outreach Day
Youth Sen. Easton C. Dela Cruz of Marianas High School reads the proclamation for National Library Week.
Library Director Erlinda Naputi
