An Overview of

National Libraries
 The Biblioteca Marciana in Venice
(1948)

It is one of the earliest surviving public libraries and repositories for manuscript
in Italy and holds one of the greatest collections of classical texts in the world.
 Bibliotheque Nationale of France
(1537)

It is the national
repository of all that is
published in France and
also holds extensive
historical collections.

It was established in 1480,

and was first named the
“Royal Library” and
declared by the national
convention as the national
library.
 The Biblioteca Marciana in Venice
(1948)
and
Bibliotheque Nationale of France
(1537)
have been recognized as pioneers of this type of library.
 19 Century
th

• There were twenty national libraries in

the world.
• access to collections was limited at first,
the situation changed drastically in the
1950s, missions of national libraries
were associated with social needs
 National Library

“the official depository of printed

works; a general access library; an
information-bibliographical center; a
center of coordination, planning, and
stimulation of the entire library system
of the nations.”
“Current Trends in National Libraries”

1. National libraries are designated as legal

depositories of their country’s records;

2. The collections of national libraries are

encyclopedic in scope.

3. National libraries produce card catalogs and

make them available to the whole country’s
libraries.
“Current Trends in National Libraries”
4. National libraries act ad clearing houses for
interlibrary loans;

5. A national library is libraries’ library which

provides technical standards, establishes
professional code of practice, etc.;

6. National libraries shall be kept with up to date

innovative techniques, such as microfilming,
photo duplication;
“Current Trends in National Libraries”

7. Some national libraries have “no longer seen

publicity nor disdain popularity,”

8. Some national libraries conduct schools of

library science and provide quarters and
secretarial assistance for the professional
associations.
 MVO of
National
Library of the
Philippines
 Mission
The National Library of the Philippines as the
repository of the printed and recorded cultural
heritage of the country and other intellectual,
literary and information sources shall provide
access and services to these resources for the
people’s intellectual growth, citizenship building,
lifelong learning and enlightenment, and shall
ensure the preservation and conservation of
these materials for the future generations of
Filipinos.
 Vision

Fulfillment of its leadership role

among the nation’s libraries by
continuously spearheading
projects and programs directed to
the development of library and
information services in the
country.
 Objectives
1. To acquire and preserve all Filipiniana materials;
2. To provide national bibliographic services;
3. To develop, in cooperation with local government
units, a system of public libraries and information
centers throughout the country;
4. To provide information, reference and research
resources to the public;
5. To promote, establish and maintain national and
international standards in library and
information services.