Tourism Development Plan: National Library of the Philippines

Introduction of the Study

National Library of the Philippines is the keeper of our nation’s soul and heritage. It is notable for being the home of José P. Rizal’s original works such as Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, and Mi Ultimo Adiós. It has abundant Filipiniana collections that preserve the institution as the nation’s fountain of knowledge and source of information for thousands of students and researchers who daily use the library’s collections in their studies.

The history of National Library may be dated from the opening of Museum-Library of the Philippines which was established at Interdencia in Intramuros during the late Spanish colonial period. After the library was moved to Gunao St. in Quiapo near the present site of Masjid Al-Dahab, the director then, Paterno, published the first issue of Bulletin of the Museum-Library of the Philippines. However, the Museum-Library of the Philippines was ended due to the beginning of American colonial period.

After the end of Philippine-American War, several American women organized the American Circulating Library for the devotion in memory of American soldiers who died in the Philippines during the war. The American colonial period can be titled as “Birth of the Modern National Library” wherein most of the collection then consisted of American fiction, periodicals, and newspapers. The National Library of the Philippines was then established as the Philippine public library system. Later on, the library was sequentially moved to Rosario St. (now Quintin Paredes St.) in Binondo after the American Circulating Library became a Philippine government institution. After the National Library was merged with Executive Bureau's Division of Archives, Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks, and the Law Library of the Philippine Assembly, it was named as Philippine Library and Museum. Later on, it was again moved to the Legislative Building on Padre Burgos St. in Ermita after the Philippine Legislature split the Philippine Library and Museum into the National Library and the National Museum.

During the World War II, the research and work on national bibliography were temporarily suspended. Japanese forces occupying Legislative Building caused that the library was forced to move to Philippine Normal School (now Philippine Normal University) and later on was moved to Manila City Hall after Japanese troops occupied the Philippine Normal School as well. Many Filipiniana collection were lost and left behind except for the original works of José P. Rizal. After the end of Japanese occupation, the library was moved to Old Bilibid Prison (now Manila City Jail) on Oroquieta St. in Sta. Cruz.

After the independence of the Philippines from United States of the America, President A. Roxas signed an Executive Order converting the National Library into an office under Bureau of Public Libraries due to a sense of national shame as a result of the World War II. Later on, it was forced to move to the old Legislative Building at the corner of Lepanto St. (now Loyola St.) and P. Paredes St. in Sampaloc, Manila and after the Circulation Division was stopped, it was again moved on Arlegui St. in San Miguel, Manila. Finally, after several relocations all over its history, it was moved to its current location and was also renamed back from the Bureau of Public Libraries to its old name, National Library of the Philippines.