The LRefD is open to the members of the parliament, officials, employees of the BTA as well as to the outsider researchers who may wish to access our collection and enjoy library privilege. However, the privilege may be revoked by the violation of the existing policy of the LRefD, depending on the extent of graveness of the offense.

Library Policies

• Collections must be made readily available and accessible to the Bangsamoro parliament officials and secretariats.

• General collections can be loaned out by the clients for not more than five (5) working days provided that they have presented their borrower’s card and valid ID. However, clients may renew the borrowed item/s by informing the library, provided that the said item/s was not reserved while it is loaned out. Not returning the item/s on the said duration without renewing will be deemed as first offense. The third offense will be subject to the revocation of library privilege.

• A maximum of two (2) books can be loaned out simultaneously.

• If book/item is lost by the borrower, he/she must either replace it with the same title, author, and publication date or pay the book with its corresponding current price in the market plus Php200 hazard fee per title

• Reference collections and archival materials are strictly for inside use ONLY.

• The library shall facilitate access to the e-resources for their remote clients.

• The library may offer photocopy services, up to five (5) pages, for the general collections within the limitation of “fair use.”

• Client shall handle the item with care. Folding any portion, use of highlighter, and any means that may cause the deterioration of the item are strictly prohibited and may depending on the damage rebuke the library privilege of the client.

• Food and drinks are strictly prohibited while using any of the library items.

• Visitor/s may have the privilege to use library resources but strictly for INSIDE READING ONLY.

Archives Policies

• Records must meet the following archival qualities to be considered as archives and thereby be accepted into the Archives.

1. 1. 1.  Permanent Nature – Records with “PERMANENT” remark on the existing Records Disposition Schedule (RDS) or General Records Disposition Schedule (GRDS) issued by the National Archives of the Philippines (NAP).

      2.  Enduring Value (i.e., historical, legal, cultural, etc.) - The usefulness or significance of records based on the information it contains, that justifies its permanent or ongoing preservation.

      3.  Uniqueness – The quality of being the only one of kinds, no other records have the same value and contents as it has.

      4.  Authenticity - The quality of being genuine, not a counterfeit, and free from tampering, and is typically inferred from internal and external evidence, including its physical characteristics, structure, content, and context.

      5.  Integrity – The quality of being whole and unaltered through loss, tampering, or corruption.

      6.  Reasonable Condition - The condition of records will greatly influence its value. No matter how vital or unique it is, it will not be worth much if it is not in a good condition to serve its purpose.

      7.  Capacity of Archives - Ability of the Archives to provide appropriate preservation and care of the materials.

• To avoid loss and deterioration and thereby ensure lasting preservation, original physical copies of archival collections are strictly restricted and only those replications and digitized copies can be accessed by the clients. However, in some cases, original copies may be accessed and loaned out provided that the client presents an authorization letter attested by the BTA Secretary-General.

• For unprocessed records, the Archivist may require up to 2 days prior notice for access.

• By default, all BTA Parliament records are open access in accordance with Rule XXVI, Section 4 of the BTA Approved Resolution No. 268. However, some records by its nature, deemed confidential, maybe restricted by its provenance, and thus, clients who are interested to access the said restricted records may request permission to access by signifying their interest through writing addressed to the records’ provenance thru the Archives (LRefD).

• By default, all government works fall under the public domain unless otherwise stated. This is in accordance with the P.D. No. 49, Section 9 which was further strengthen in the R.A. No. 8293, Section 176 as stated that “No copyright shall subsist in any work of the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or office wherein the work is created shall be necessary for the exploitation of such work for profit. Such agency or office may, among other things, impose as a condition the payment of royalties. No prior approval or conditions shall be required for the use for any purpose of statutes, rules, and regulations, and speeches, lectures, sermons, addresses, and dissertations, pronounced, read or rendered in courts of justice, before administrative agencies, in deliberative assemblies and in meetings of public character.”

• In some cases, by virtue of P.D. No. 49, Section 13, libraries and archives may receive copyrighted works and deal with them in accordance with the specified conditions under the said provision.