Library Roaming: The Ortigas Foundation Library

Part of being a possible volunteer for the Wikimedia Philippines’ Philippine Heritage Mapping project is the research work that needs to be done not only to gather information on the landmark you will be writing about in Wikipedia, but also finding the sources of such information that can be used as a solid foundation of sorts for that article in the sense that those sources that will be cited are reliable and thus, verifiable.

In the course of such research that I have been doing, I found myself visiting again a haunt that I sometimes visit during my student days, the Ortigas Foundation Library.

The library is considered as the cornerstone of the efforts of the Ortigas Foundation (which was incorporated on November 7, 1996) in promoting Philippine studies, especially in the arts, culture, and history. Although it is a fairly young library, its collection is nonetheless impressive with over 21,000 books, serials, images, and documents dating as far back as 17th century. This includes an extensive collection of works on and about Jose Rizal which once belonged to noted Filipino historian Gregorio Zaide as well as a complete set of Japanese war crimes trial records and original photographs and publications during the wartime era in the country.

Surrounding the library, one can find rare photographs, posters, and publications that are being exhibited, all part of the collection of the library.

Then there’s also the library shop which will actually greet you when you enter the library premises. The shop offers a variety of gift items like bags, shirts, mugs, pencils, notebooks, fans, among others being given a unique Filipino cultural twist with reproductions of the library’s vast collection of images

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And being library, one can also find books on sale as well, especially those published by the Ortigas Foundation itself.

Library hours are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Mondays to Saturdays. No fees are charged when you visit, so do take time to check this out and get reacquainted with the country’s rich history and culture while learning something new in the process.

For more information about the Ortigas Foundation Library, as well to be in the know of the various activities and events it hols, you can check out its official website at www.ortigasfoundationlibrary.com.ph.