Fast Facts

Current Philippine Education State:

Unfortunately, the present state of literacy in the country is getting dismal, a fact found in a study conducted by the Bureau of Elementary Education. The said study showed that:

• In 2003, the book-to-student ratio in our public schools is 1:4. This figure still continues to decrease.
  
• In 2004, more than 60 percent of the Grade I-VI public school students have problems with reading properly.
  
• Only 14-23% percent of Grade I-VI public school pupils can read in their level
  
• Public school teachers are not given adequate literacy training.
  

As such, it would come as no surprise if the quality of education of public school students is below average. Given that scenario, the children’s future is at stake. This situation should not go unnoticed. In line with the United Nation’s worldwide effort to eradicate illiteracy by 2015, the National Book Store Foundation, Inc. (NBSFI) joins this effort to empower people through literacy.

Our Organization

In 2004, the country’s largest bookstore chain National Book Store, Inc. established the National Book Store Foundation, Inc. (NBSFI) as its official socio-civic arm that concretely expresses its commitment to develop readers by making books more accessible.

National Book Store Foundation, Inc. is the by-product of the success of Buklat-Aklat Mobile Library Project, which was first launched by National Book Store, Inc., Anvil Publishing, Inc. and the Reading Association of the Philippines (RAP) in 1998.

NBSFI recently acquired its accreditation from the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC). PCNC was established to certify non-profit organizations that meet established criteria for financial management and accountability in the service to underprivileged Filipinos. Certification by PCNC is a "seal of good housekeeping" that funding partners and prospective donors may consider in their choice of organizations to support.

Our Vision

We see a future where all Filipinos love to read.

Our Mission

We aim to make Filipinos love books and we shall develop readers by making books more accessible to people who need them most.

Our Goals

• To encourage reading among public school children;
• To promote reading and its importance to the development of nation of thinking, upright citizens by exposing young children to a wide selection of reading materials; thereby promoting reading as a lifelong habit among Filipino children;
• To provide a venue for pleasurable reading through mobile libraries and/or reading corners in the school and/or barangays; and
• To help build up-to-date, fully stocked libraries in public schools specifically in impoverished communities in the Philippines.

Our Projects

	Buklat-Aklat Mobile Library Project: Buklat Aklat Mobile Library Project aims to encourage reading among public school children ages 5 to 12. It is a collection of about 500 books, considered the very basic reading list for children in the preschool and grade school levels. The library visits public elementary schools, public libraries and barangay halls the whole year round. Aside from allowing kids to freely browse the collection, the mobile library also features Alitaptap members who conduct storytelling sessions to make children’s experience more memorable. Moreover, illustrators and writers are also invited to share the joys of reading books.
	Buklat-Aklat Leave-Behind Library Project: An offshoot project of the mobile library, the Buklat-Aklat Leave-Behind Library Project is a replica of the 500 book collection which permanently stays in a chosen scholastic institution. Corporate groups and other socio-civic organizations are welcome to help us build up-to-date, fully stocked libraries in public schools specifically in impoverished communities in the Philippines.
	Handog Ko, Aklat Mo Project: Last November 2006, NBSFI has launched it’s first-ever book raising campaign involving the NBS community. The campaign was aimed at encouraging all NBS patrons to purchase books as donations which were turned-over to different public scholastic institutions for their library start-up. Because of its success, NBSFI and NBS will now adopt this project on a yearly basis hoping that more customers will participate to help more children realize their dream of having good reading books within their reach.
	Buklat-Aklat Mileage (BAM) Project: “Buy B.A.M. products and help enrich a child’s mind!” Patrons of National Book Store Inc. can now directly help public school children realize their dream of having a well-stocked and updated library in their schools by buying B.A.M. marked products. What makes it possible for National Book Store patrons to directly help in this project? The answer is that part of the proceeds from the B.A.M products goes directly to NBSFI to fund more Buklat-Aklat Libraries for public schools nationwide. The more B.A.M. products you buy, the more mileage you give Buklat-Aklat to reach less fortunate readers in the country.

Beneficiaries

Since 1998, the Buklat-Aklat Mobile Library Project has benefited close to 1000 schools all over the country. With the birth of NBSFI and its projects, several education-related groups have been assisted–from public schools, libraries, barangay daycare centers and other civic and non-profit organizations. These were all carefully chosen to ensure the organization’s line of thrust. For soliciting organization(s), a letter of inquiry must be submitted to NBSFI. This will help us evaluate the amount of support we can extend.