Palawan State University (PalawanSU) and the Philippine Association of Academic Research Librarians, Inc. (PAARL) conducted a ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on April 15, 2026, which marked the official partnership for the 2026 PAARL National Summer Conference held in Puerto Princesa City.
PAARL officials led by their President, Ms. Rainera C. Boholst formally met and signed a MOA with President Marissa S. Pontillas at the Palawan State University to signify a shared commitment in advancing the field of library and information science.
The ceremonial signing coincided with the opening of the 2026 PAARL National Summer Conference, held from April 15 to 17, 2026, at Best Western Plus, The IvyWall Hotel. With the theme “The Library C.O.R.E – Compliance, Output, Research, and Evolution: Sustaining Academic Quality and Innovation,” the conference gathered librarians and information professionals from across the country for a series of lectures, workshops, and research presentations.
During the opening program, the Sining Palawan Dance Troupe regaled the participants with a performance that highlighted the rich heritage of the province. This was followed by the keynote speech of OIC Pontillas which highlighted the importance of libraries as necessary safe spaces for learners and librarians as advocates of learning.
The three-day conference tackled topics such as accreditation, standards, and internationalization in academic libraries. There were also interactive engagements including workshops and output presentations on institutional impact and governance in the age of data and artificial intelligence. Participants also took part in research paper presentations covering open access publishing, institutional repositories, and library anxiety, alongside technology demonstrations from various partners. There were also discussions centered on preparing future-ready librarians through reskilling and upskilling initiatives, as well as monitoring outputs and measuring performance in academic libraries.
The PalawanSU Library Services division headed by Dir. Christian Robert B. Nalica spearheaded this collaboration with PAARL.
