Libraries you should visit around Metro Manila
Seeing Metro Manila as being air polluted and having traffic jam, people would think that it is not a place suitable for enjoyment. But fret not, especially book lovers, because there are libraries that can satisfy your cravings for a peaceful place. The Spiral Journal has a list of some of the public libraries that you can visit in Metro Manila.
1. Cultural Center of the Philippines Library and Archives
Where: CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Magdalena Jalandoni, Malate, Pasay
Admission fee: Free
Library hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Tuesday-Friday)
The CCP Library and Archives is a library that caters to people who are interested in arts, culture, history, and humanities. It provides not just books but also audio tapes and film tapes that would make visitors feel nostalgic and discover the arts and culture of the past.
2. Filipinas Heritage Library
Where: 6/F Ayala Museum, Makati Avenue cor., Dela Rosa Street
Admission fee: Members (1,500 pesos/year), Non-members (100 pesos/visit)
Library hours: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Tuesday-Saturday)
The Filipinas Heritage Library is a technological research center that provides over 13,000 contemporary volumes of Philippine history, art, language, religion, and social science books, and over 2,000 rare titles about microfiche and maps. It has a vast range of slides, photographs and CD-ROM publishing for those who are into visuals.
3. Lopez Library
Where: G/F Benpres Building, Exchange Road cor. Meralco Ave., Pasig CityAdmission fee: 100 pesos – Adults, 80 pesos – Senior Citizens (with ID), Teachers, Grades 7 until college level (with ID), 60 pesos – Grades 1-6 (with ID)Library hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday)
The Lopez Library specializes in Philippine materials that include books and maps from the sixteenth century. The library houses 30,000 books and is still expanding. It aims to cultivate a legacy of exemplary quality, timeless relevance, persistent awakening of wisdom and knowledge, dynamic reaching out to multiplying users, and purposeful accessibility to the richness and dynamism of the Philippine culture.
4. National Library of the Philippines
Where: T.M. Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila
Admission fee: Free
Library hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday)
The National Library of the Philippines has a long history from the time it was built back in August 12, 1887. It has original copy of Jose Rizal’s works like Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo and Mi último adiós. It’s Filipiniana section has 210,000 books and over 880,000 manuscripts. There are also newspapers from the Metro Manila and from other parts of the country. Theses, dissertations, government publications, maps, and photographs are available for exploration. Non-print versions of materials are also available through microfilms.
5. Ortigas Foundation Library
Where: 2/F Bldg. Ortigas, Ortigas Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig
Admission fee: Free
Library hours: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Monday to Saturday)
The Ortigas Foundation Library houses 21,000 Filipiniana books dating from as early as the 17th century to the present. Variety books of Attorney Rafael Ortigas, Jr., the library founder, are accessible. 17th-21st century publications, rare maps, antiquarian photographs, botanical prints, primary documents, and artifacts are also present. Visuals like photographs, postcards, sterovoews and illustrated materials are also available to give glimpse of the life during 1700s to the post-war Philippines.