DAVAO CITY – The best public library across the Philippines can be found in this city.

This was learned by city librarian Nora Fe Alajar last week after receiving the information from the Board of Judges of the National Committee on Library and Information Services of the National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCCA) that they have garnered 100 percent approval rate from the board of judges, which bested other libraries in the country.

In this year’s “Search for Outstanding Libraries in the Philippines,” Davao leads the rank, followed by the public city libraries of Dagupan, Angeles, Zamboanga, Bacolod and Talisay.

But Alajar was surprised as she never expected that the city library would make it to the top.

“We only complied what they asked of us. So we documented the milestones of the library and its operations,” she said, adding that they were even the last to submit the proper documentation the board of judges requested them.

“What they liked, perhaps, is our thrust in promoting readership among the children through the mobile libraries that has been travelling around the 14 villages and the consistency of this library,” she explained.

The city library sits in the heart of downtown Davao, being located at the third floor of the Sangguniang Panglunsod.