By: Reema Macadato and Kara Cabangcalan
Last November 14, selected grade 11 students of Philippine School Doha (PSD) took a tour in the Qatar National Library (QNL) and were given a lecture presentation regarding Library Database Training which aimed to provide a discussion on the appropriate tools and credible sources for the students to use and devise on their research.
Before the lecture started, Ms. Mounira, one of the information service librarians and presenters, reiterated the process of becoming a member in QNL and gave instructions for the students to follow. She also gave a short overview regarding the Young Adults Events under the category of Programs and Events in QNL as it displayed the different educational workshops that QNL provided for the middle school and high school students. These programs and events allowed the students to be more innovative and showcase their unique competencies. Afterward, Ms. Mounira began her lecture with a warm-up activity in which she gave the specific objectives of the lecture and provided points to level off the expectations of the participants. Later on, she proceeded to talk about the online database.
Her presentation was then followed by another lecture conducted by her colleague and fellow information service librarian. He talked about search engines and databases, reminding the students to be more cautious of the reliable sources that they should obtain for their research. Moreover, he also reviewed the students on the proper usage of citations. To have an interaction with the students, the presenter gave a chance to the students to talk about their research. This lecture proved that online databases are advantageous to both the students and the general public alike. The seminar concluded with a brief tour of the library and its facilities.
Indeed, PSD strived to remind its students that the quest for knowledge does not merely end within the concrete walls of the school; it must be a continuous lifelong process that can transcend all borders.