More books!!

(1) The Philippines Through European Lenses: Late 19th Century Photographs From The Meerkamp Van Embden Collection by Otto van den Muijzenberg --- This book contains photographs of the Philippines during the nineteenth century which was made by P.K.A. Meerkamp van Embden, a Dutch businessman who later served as honorary consul of the Netherlands from 1889 to 1927. The years covered by his photographs witnessed the increasing integration of the Philippines into the world economy, the 1896 Revolution and the violent change of sovereignty from Spanish to American. The photographs are thus significant as a Dutchman’s perspective on a watershed period in Philippine history. The subjects are varied: the people, streets and homes of Ermita, where Meerkamp resided; the abaca trade; Romblon and Cebu. An added bonus are photographs of the peoples of the Cordillera by Dr. Alexander Schadenberg. The text that ties together the ensemble was written by Dr. Otto van den Muijzenberg, a Dutch anthropologist who has spent years doing fieldwork in the Philippines and has a deep knowledge of its culture and history.


Published by Ateneo Press
368 pp
Fully Booked, Greenbelt 5 (P500)


(2) The Titanic Experience: The Legend of the Unsinkable Ship by Beau Riffenburgh --- I am a big fan of the ship itself. I also have the books of Walter Lord. The Titanic Experience contains photographs, facsimile items of the Titanic memorabilia and first hand accounts from the survivors, providing an insight into life aboard the ship.

Published by Carlton
70 pp
Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street (gift)

A Guide to the National Library

Pambansang Aklatan (The National Library)
T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita,Manila 1000
Tel. Nos.: 525-1748/525-3196
Website: http://www.nlp.gov.ph/
Reading Rooms/Library Services Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday to Saturday

How to get there:
Cab: Just tell the cab driver National Library in T.M. Kalaw. (fare - around 120 Php from Makati)
PUJ: No idea
MRT/LRT: from EDSA - Get off MRT Taft Station. Walk towards the LRT Taft station. Buy 1-way ticket (15 Php). Get off at the UN Avenue Station. Walk down UN Avenue then turn right on Mabini Street. Cross T.M. Kalaw to reach the library.

New library users must first apply for a library card. You cannot read and even browse books without a library card. Apply for the ID at the cashier, located on your left upon entering the building. You must have a 1x1 photo for the library card and a valid ID. Pay 50 Php for the card, glue the 1x1 photo and sign it.

You must deposit your bag (if you have one) at the bags counter, located on the right side of the first floor (or the East Wing). You can only bring your library card, pen, paper and valuables. You then proceed to the floor of your choice.

Information Technology Division - 1st Floor, Data Center
Reference Division - 2nd Floor, West Wing
Filipiniana Division - 3rd Floor, West Wing
Public Libraries Division - 3rd Floor, East Wing
Catalog Division - 4th Floor, West Wing
Research and Publication Division - 4th Floor, West Wing
Finance and Administrative Division - 4th Floor, East Wing
Bibliographic Services Division - 4th Floor Mezzanine, West Wing
Collection Development Division - 5th Floor, East Wing

My destination is always the Filipiniana Division on the 3rd floor, as I wanted to research about the history of Intramuros. First thing to do is to log in at the division entrance. The library has the NLP OPAC system where you can search for materials that library has. It's like doing a Google search, type in the title of the material and the system will give you the results.

You then write the title, author, shelf location and call number of the book on the query cards (You can get these from the librarians). Present the query card to the librarian and you will be given the exact shelf number. You have to look for the book yourself. It's quite easy to find the books since they are well-organized.

By the way if you want to photocopy the books, it's 1 Php per page and you can only bring out 2 books at a time. For their microfilm printing (2nd Floor, East Wing), if I remember it right it's 7 Php per page.

Services of NLP
1. Online Public Access Catalog (on-site and via Internet)
2. Philippine eLibrary Kiosk Services
3. Reading Room Services
4. Photocopying Services
5. Microfilm and Digital Material Printing Services
6. Storytelling Services
7. Copyright registration Services
8. ISBN registration Services
9. ISSN registration Services
10. ISMN registration Services
11. Library tour Services