First Lady opens Presidential Library at the National Library

MANILA, Philippines — Collections of books on Philippine culture, heritage, law and other subjects from Malacañang’s Presidential Museum and Library can now be accessed by the public at the National Library of the Philippines in Manila.

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos led the launching of the Presidential Library at the second floor mezzanine of the NLP building on Nov. 29.

“When my husband assumed office last June, we noticed that there were piles and piles of books on Philippine culture and heritage in Malacañan Palace. There were also hundreds of law books, some of them were first editions, priceless that many law students would have lusted after,” she said.

Araneta-Marcos also emphasized the importance of libraries in learning and development.

“Our libraries are here to stay. Library serves as a haven for students, researchers, members of the academe and practically everybody, rich or poor, who want to know more about our history and our country,” she said.

The month of November was declared Library and Information Services Month through Presidential Proclamation 837 in 1991.

In a post on her official Facebook page on Nov. 30, Araneta-Marcos said over 40,000 books were loaned to the NLP for cleaning, repair, rebinding, casing and cataloging.

The NLP serves as the repository of the printed and recorded cultural heritage of the country and other intellectual, literary resources and information sources.

The library, located along Kalaw Avenue in Ermita, Manila, is open to the public, free of charge, Mondays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.