The Seventeenth International Conference on Books, Publishing & Libraries

Abstract

Linguistic diversity is has not been fully explored in the Library and Information Science field. In the course of doing this study, it was revealed that one of the indigenous languages in the Philippines is dying. This study presents the impact of a linguistic diversity library campaign (Words on the Wall) introduced to a school community in the Philippines in the hopes of increasing awareness and promoting use of the indigenous language. A descriptive survey was employed in the study through a questionnaire administered to 114 Junior and Senior High School students. The survey revealed that the linguistic diversity campaign produced the following impact: 82% of the respondents (93) felt accepted despite the language diversity in the environment, 82% (or 94) of the respondents were influenced to want to learn a new language (English) according to 34% (39 respondents), and 84% (or 99) of the respondents were influenced to appreciate linguistic diversity in the school. The Words on the Wall campaign provides a basis for libraries to develop and include diversity activities that promote linguistics as part of regular programs.