OVERVIEW OF PHILIPPINE

LIBRARIES
 History of Libraries in the Philippines

Laguna Copper plate – the earliest known information source found in

the Philippines.
- 900 A.D.
- it describes the paying of a debt to a member of
a royal family
Doctrina Christiana – one of the earliest books published in the Philippines
- printed using xylographic method
- printing each page from one hard-carved woodblock
- written by Fray Juan de Plasencia in 1953
- Purpose is to spread the Christian belief to the Filipino
Natives
- One copy survived in Library of Congress in Washington D.C
Museo- Bibioteca de Filipinas ( Museum- Library of the Philippines)
- National Library of the Philippines
- established Royal Order on August 12, 1887
- opened October 24, 1891
- Dr. Pedro A. Paterno served as its Librarian
- it was abolished by American Colonization
- collections were later transferred to Paterno’s own Private
library
- which later became Filipiñiana collection of the National
Library
Louis Stewart Osborn
- promoted the use of school libraries and is known
as the “ Father of School Libraries”

American Circulating Library

- established by Mrs. Charles Greenleaf
- volumes consisted of American works of Fiction,
periodicals, and newspapers.
March 5, 1901
- Philippine Commission recognized the ACL’s extensive
collections
- Birthdate of the National Library and the Philippine –Public
Library System

James Alexander Robertson

- First director of the Modern Philippine National Library
- Father of the study of Library Science in the Philippines
 Republic Act. No. 6966

- Act of Regulating the practice of librarianship and setting

forth the proper qualification of librarians in the Philippines.
- September 19, 1990 – it was sign into law
- Prescribes the scope of practice of librarians all over the
Philippines as well as requisites for those who would wish
to apply for a career in librarianship.
- And also qualification of those who would like to be a
member of the Board of Librarians
Republic Act. No. 9246

- Known as the Act of Modernizing the

practices of Librarianship in the Philippines,
Repealing the previous Republic Act No.
6966
- February 19, 2004 – it was signed into law
 Some Notable Libraries in the Philippines

National Library of the Philippines (NLP)

- Still Remain to be largest and most popular library in the
Philippines
- serve as the country’s premier repository of printed and
recorded materials which reflect the intellectual, literary and
cultural heritage of the Philippines as well as the Knowledge and
wisdom of peoples elsewhere in the world.
Director: Cesar Gilbert Q. Adriano
University of the Philippines
- own school of Library and Information Studies

University of Santo Tomas

- oldest University in the Philippines
- called Miguel de Benavidez Library
 Lopez Museum and library
- is the oldest privately owned and managed
museum and library specializing in Philippine materials
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
-is dedicated to abolishing poverty and hunger among
people and populations that depend on rice-based agri-
food systems
-is among the largest non-profit agricultural research
centers in Asia, with headquarters in the Philippines and
offices
 JANUARY
• Last Week - Children’s Week ( Proclamation No. 190, s. 1964)

• Third Sunday of January - Children’s Day (Proclamation No. 552, s.

1959)

• January 1 -New Year’s ( Republic Act No. 9492 of 2007)

(Proclamation No. 831, s. 2014*)
 FEBRUARY
Monthly Observances
Philippine Heart Month (Proclamation No. 1096, s. 1973)
National Arts Months ( Proclamation No. 683, s.1991)
National Dental Health Month (Proclamation No. 559,s. 2004)

February 22- 25
EDSA People Power Commemoration Week
(Proclamation No. 1224, s. 2007)
 MARCH
Monthly Observances
Fire Prevention Month (Proclamation No. 115-A, s. 1966)

March 8
National Women ‘s Day (Republic Act No. 6949 of 1990)
 APRIL
Monthly Observances
Month of Planet Earth ( Proclamation No. 1482, s. 2008)
National Literature Month (Proclamation No. 968, s. 2015)
April 5-11
Philippine Veterans Week (Proclamation No.466, s. 1989 amended by
Proclamation No. 466- A, s. 2007)
April 9
Araw ng Kagitingan ( Republic Act No. 9492 of 2007) (Proclamation No.
831, s. 2014*)
April 22
Philippines’ Earth Day (Proclamation No. 1481, s. 2008
 MAY
Monthly Observances
Cervical Cancer Consciousness Month (Proclamation No. 368, s. 2003
National Heritage Month (Proclamation No. 439, s. 2003

May 1
Labor Day (Republic Act No. 9492) (Proclamation No. 831, s.2014*)
 JUNE
Monthly Observances
Philippine Environment Month (Proclamation No. 237, s. 1988)
National No Smoking Month (Proclamation No. 183,s. 1993)
National Kidney Month (Proclamation No. 184, s, 1993)
June 6-12
Linggo ng Kalayaan (Proclamation No. 914, s. 1992)
June 12
Independence Day (Republic Act No. 4166 of 1964)
June 19
Filipino Youth Day (Proclamation No. 75, s. 1948
 JULY

Monthly Observances
Nutrition Month (Presidential Decree No. 491, s. 1974)
Blood Donors Month (Proclamation No. 1021, s. 1997)
National Disaster Consciousness Month (Executive Order No. 137, s. 1999)
 AUGUST
Monthly Observances
Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa (Proklamasyon Blg.1041, s. 1997)
August 13-19
- National Language Week(Proclamation No. 19, s. 1988)
Last Monday of August
- National Heroes Day (Act No. 3827 and Republic Act No. 9492)
August 21
- Ninoy Aquino Day (Republic Act No. 9256 of 2004)
 SEPTEMBER
Monthly Observances
National Teachers’ Month (September 5- October 5) (Proclamation No. 242, s. 2011)
September 17-23
World Clean and Green Week (Proclamation No. 244, s. 1993)
Week 2
Education Week (Proclamation No. 409, s. 1953
Last Week
Family Week (Proclamation No. 60,s. 1992)
Third Monday of September
World Health day ( Proclamation No. 144, s. 1963)
September 8
National Literacy Day (Proclamation No. 1886, s. 1979)
 OCTOBER
Monthly Observances
National Children’s Month (Proclamation No. 267, s. 1993)
October 31 – November 6 – Boy Scout Week (Proclamation No. 39, s.
1947)
First Monday of October - Universal Children’s Day in the Philippines
(Proclamation No. 265, s. 1967)
 NOVEMBER
Monthly Observances
Library and Information Services Month (Proclamation No. 837, s. 1991)
Philippine Book Development Month (Proclamation No.1436, s. 2007)
National Children’s Month (Republic Act. No. 10661 of 2014)

November 23- 29 – National Girl’s Week ( Proclamation No.3, s. 1935)

November 24 -30- National Book Week (Proclamation No. 109, s. 1936)

November 25- December 12 – 18- Day Campaign to End Violence against Women
(Proclamation No. 1172, s. 2006)
 NOVEMBER
November 1 - All Saints Day ( Republic Act No. 9492)
(Proclamation No. 831, s. 2014)
November 2 - All Souls Day ( Proclamation No. 831, s.
2014)
November 30 - Bonifacio Day ( Act No. 2946) (Republic
Act No. 9492) (Proclamation No. 831, 2014*)
 DECEMBER
Monthly Observances
Rizal Month ( Proclamation No. 126, s. 2001)
Week 1 - Family Week (Proclamation No. 147, s. 1949)
December 25 - Christmas Day (Republic Act No.
9492)(Proclamation No. 831, s. 2014*)
December 30 - Rizal Day ( Act. No. 345) ( Republic Act. No.
9492) ( Proclamation No. 831, s. 2014*)