The University Library : A Brief History

The Graduate School Library. It was in 1977 when the Bulacan College of Arts and Trade (BCAT) began to offer the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching. Dr. A. Horca, former dean of Graduate School, came up with the idea to put up a library for the Graduate School. She donated some of her books and asked some benefactors to do the same. In 1992, Ms. Julieta Javier, the first graduate librarian designee, organized the collection of library materials using the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) System. It was during her time that the Library had undergone accreditation and passed the preliminary visit. Due to her resourcefulness, Ms. Javier increased the library collection with the help of some generous benefactors. She devoted most of her time for the improvement of the library as well as the services to its clientele. 

The College of Industrial Technology Library Back in 1952 the Bulacan Trade School began to offer two-year specialized trade curriculum. However, with the changing times then, two-year technical, three-year technician and four-year Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology were changed to Bachelor in Industrial Technology in the year 1996. Dr. Salvador Peredo, the former Dean of CIT, came up with the idea to establish a library. He assigned Mrs. Gloria Villegas, CIT drafting faculty to organize the collections of books donated by the PTA Officers and various benefactors. 

The Bustos Campus Library In 1975, the Bulacan State University Bustos Campus was established. After two years, the creation of the library was carried out. It was first located at the former canteen, now, Gymnasium and Ms. Violeta De Rueda was appointed as the first library-in-charge. The primary function of the Library that time was a repository of books donated by the students, and some wealthy people, such as Gen. Alejo Santos. The Library was primarily focused on the use of the high school students until the first accreditation was held in 2007. The administration hired Ms. Ana Marie Inovero to renew the library to become a more systematized library with her knowledge as a graduate of BSE major in Library Science. A systematic library scheme was used by Ms. Inovero which was Dewey Decimal Classification and was sufficient for organizing the library collection. Also, during her time as the library-in-charge, the Library was moved to the 2nd floor of the now Pancho building. Ms. Inovero resigned and was replaced by another graduate of BSE, Ms. Michelle Belleza, in 2008. Another library classification scheme was adapted for the library which was the Library of Congress Classification Scheme to replace the old system DDC. During Ms. Belleza's time, the library was moved to the 3rd floor of the Pancho building due to limited space for the students because of the growing population of the Bustos Campus. In 2010, Ms. Belleza was replaced by a graduate of Bachelor of Library and Information Science, Ms. Concordia Verde. Unfortunately, Ms. Verde had only a short term in the library. Months later, Ms. Verde resigned, and the library had no librarian to manage it. In 2011, Mr. Eduardo G. Mañgalile, present librarian, was hired by the administration to continue the growth and development of the BulSU Bustos Campus Library. 

The College of Education Library It was in 1986-1989 that the College of Education Library was headed by Mrs. Aurora De Leon, and was assisted by Ms. Julita Javier. It was located on the 3rd floor Carpio Hall. In 1989- 1990 the COED Library / LHS library was headed by Mrs. Virginia C. Miranda and after a year it was directed by another librarian by the name of Mrs. Vilma Tobias in the year 1990-1991. In the year 1991-1995, the library was under the leadership of Ms. Sinagtala De Leon and the COED Library was transferred to the Roxas Hall 3rd floor and passed the Level 1 Accreditation. In 1995- 1997 the COED library was again headed by Mrs. Virginia Miranda in compliance with the accreditors’ recommendation that the library be lead by a licensed librarian. In 2004-2015 the COED library was led by Mrs. Cielito D.R. Santos who was also appointed as Acting University Librarian. In February 2015 to present the College of Education Library is now in the leadership of Mr. Jonathan Cruz as the newly appointed librarian with his staff Mr. Rei Emmanuel Pascual. 

The College of Engineering Library What is now known as the College of Engineering Library used to be a part of the then the College of Engineering and Architecture (CEAR) Library. It was formerly housed at the second floor of the Integrated Building (Federizo Hall) until the completion of the Natividad Hall, a fivestorey building which became the home of the College of Engineering. The CEAR Library was initially managed by Dr. Dinia Delfina Reyes. Upon its transfer to the new College of Engineering Building in 1999, the COE Learning Resource Center was supervised by Mrs. Marita Valerio until her resignation in 2001. The current librarian, Mrs. Alicia C. Esguerra, was hired in 2002 and has ever since served as the Librarian of the College of Engineering Library since then. 

The College of Architecture and Fine Arts Library The segregation of the Department of Architecture from the then College of Engineering and Architecture took effect in June 1999. In spite of the lack of facilities and time to prepare for the separation, President Rosario Pimentel still encouraged the establishment of the Institute of Architecture & Fine Arts. It was on March 23, 1999, during the 2nd regular meeting of the BSU Board of Regents which was held at the DAP Function Room, DAP Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City that a resolution was signed, formally establishing the Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts. Included in the Board Resolution No. 17, s. 1999 is the separation of Architecture from the College of Engineering and the designation of Arch. Ma. Saturnina C. Parungao who was then the Architecture Department Head as the Director of the Institute. 

The College of Science Library The Institute of Science or College of Science Library formerly known as the College of Art and Sciences (CAS) Library was established in 1999, with Mrs. Cielito DR. Santos as the head librarian until 2000, then followed by Ms. Annalisa Alaijos until 2001. From the year 2001 to 2003, Ms. Jean Ann Ramos was department librarian, then after, she was replaced by Ms. Cheryl Velasquez until March 2006. The year 2007, the offices in the 3rd gate were demolished together with the CS library. The library was relocated to the 2nd floor of Federizo Hall, across the gymnasium of the college and the Administration Building. The Library is in between Room 206 and the Audio Visual Room. Downstairs, across the Library is the Chess Institute which is in front of the Federizo Hall. 

The College of Law Library The College of Law Library was established in May of 2002 during the first year of operations. It was formerly housed at the ground floor of Natividad Hall (College of Engineering Building) where the College held its classes and other academic functions. The College was then named Marcelo H. del Pilar College of Law, accordingly, the library was called Marcelo H. del Pilar College of Law Library. Most of its collections were acquired through gifts and donations. Through the generosity and benevolence of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who unselfishly allotted part of his Countryside Development Fund, through the efforts of Rep. Ma. Victoria Sy-Alvarado, 1st District of Bulacan, a separate edifice was built for the College. A three-storey building was constructed in 2009. The college was renamed BSU College of Law. A room at the ground floor of the building were all the books from Marcelo H. del Pilar College of Law Library were transferred became the College of Law Library. Ms. Jeylin Espino was the librarian then until December of 2012. New librarians were hired after the resignation of Ms. Espino and served until 2014. In September 2014, Ms. Meleonor Roxas started to man the Library and provided services to its clients. 

The Sarmiento Campus Library The history of the BulSU Sarmiento Library can be traced back in 2002 under its former director Engr. Zenaida Buendia. Located at first floor of Building1 at Room 104, by that time the library was still small, consisting of four (4) tables, five (5) shelves, and a collection of only 500 volumes of books and a few titles of magazines and newspapers. It had a seating capacity of only 32 individuals. In 2007, a full-time librarian, Ms. Annalyn Barrun was hired to develop the library, its services, and collection. In the year 2005, a new library was transferred to the third floor of building1 Room 301, its floor area expanded to seat 100 individuals, and the book collection increased to 4000 volumes. 

The Filipiniana Library Filipiniana Library or known as Aklatang Valeriano started to operate in 2002 under the supervision of Dr. Reynaldo Naguit which is the former Director of the Center for Bulacan Studies. Aklatang Valeriano was know as one of the richest Filipiniana collection in the Philippines. Most of the collections were donated by the Valeriano family, a close relative of Dr. Naguit. Without any knowledge of being librarian, still, Dr. Naguit cherished and managed the Filipiniana collection by providing database in which the client could access the collection easily. It was the very first database used the University that time. Because of the task as Director of CBS, Dr. Naguit hired a librarian that managed the library in the person of Ms. Rosita Lalic. In 2006, Ms. Lalic was transferred to other college library. In year 2007, Ms. Maria Pretty Lay Abdala was hired and started to man the Aklatang Valeriano. Dr. Naguit was promoted Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy and hand over the management of Aklatang Valeriano and CSSP library to Ms. Abdala. Due to the growing population of the college and demands of the work, Ms. Abdala hired additional staff that would take over the Aklatang Valeriano in the person of Ms. Ranessa Mae Villamonte. To date, the Aklatang Valeriano collections have been under digitization and preservation as one of Ms. Abdala’s projects for the library. 

The College of Home Economics Library The College of Home Economics Library had its humble beginning in the year 2006 when the college transferred to its building located near the BulSU Hostel with Mrs. Rosita Lalic as the Librarian. The library then was one room only and housed a total of 280 books. As the collection increased, the library expanded and occupied the adjacent room. It had an area of 120sq.m. with 85 seating capacity. Presently, the library houses the collection of around 1,182 volumes and 820 titles of books on different subject covering the academic courses offered in BulSU College of Home Economics and general reading materials which came from purchase and donations. The library has also houses research works at around 274 titles carried out by the college students every academic year. It has also a provision of computer units for internet use. Commencing SY 2014- 2015, Ms. Cristine Abigail P. Ayran was hired to take place the former librarian, Mrs. Lalic. The library is now engaging to a transformation from manually operated library to a fully automated one. 

The College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Library In the past years, the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Library shared a room in the Filipiniana library (Aklatang Antonio Valeriano/ Center for Bulacan Studies) at the 3rd floor of Roxas Hall, beside the Dean’s office of College of Education. Due to the growing number of students, the management decided to relocate the library and house it at the 1st floor of the Agham Panlipunan at Pilosopiya (APP) building of CSSP. In October 2009, the library was transferred to the APP building of CSSP and started to offer its service to its students and faculty of CSSP and BulSU community. It was in the year 2011 when CSSP library changed its name to Aklatang Mariano Ponce upon the collapse of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy into three colleges (CSSP, CBA, and CCJE). To date, the Aklatang Mariano Ponce serves the three colleges and BulSU community and it is manned by unit head Librarian Ms. Maria Pretty Lay Abdala and her professional staff Ms. Jhonnaliza Banaag, and Mr. Jayvee Garcia. 

The College of Nursing Library With the establishment of the CON and CICT Buildings in 2004, a provision for the College of the Nursing Library was realized at the 2nd floor right wing of the hall. It was in July of 2008 when it finally became functional and managed by professional Librarian. Through the initiative of the PTA, CON officers, the physical set – up of the library was developed through floor tiling, installation of air conditioning unit, and putting up of curtains to enhance its ambiance. It was in July 2016 when Mr. Darren Carolino was hired as the new Librarian of the College of Nursing due to the resignation of the previous librarian. 

The College of Information and Communication Technology Library For several years, the College of Information and Communications Technology Library shared a room in the College of Science on the 2nd floor of Federizo Hall. Due to the growing number of students and the need to comply with the recommendations of the previous preliminary accreditation, the management decided to relocate the library and house at the 4th floor of the Academic Building of CON and CICT. It was November in 2008, that the Dean of the CICT, Dr. Fausto S. Hilario hired a librarian to manage the operation of the library.And in January of 2009, the library starts to offer its service to its students and faculty and BulSU community. 

The College of Arts and Letters Library The CAL Library was formally opened in June 2011 with Ms. Yhna Therese Santos as the librarian. Hence the current existing Learning Resource Center is on its five years of operations. Some books had been acquired seven to ten years before and were housed in the old faculty room and were later organized as initial part of the library holdings. Commencing SY 2012-2013, Dr. Dinia Delfina S. Reyes was relegated on June 13, 2012, as Library in-Charge to take the place of the former librarian, Ms. Santos. But due to the need of a licensed librarian, the College of Arts and Letters hired Ms. Princes Joydee B. Custodio on January 20, 2014, who also took her on-thejob-training at the CAL Library during her academic years. In March 2016 the position of the Librarian became available due to latter resignation. For the continuance of the library service a newly graduate, was hired as Library-In-Charge. Ms. Marla Ann Mariano took and passed the September 2016 Board Examination for Librarian. 

The Meneses Campus Library The Bulacan State University- Meneses Campus started the establishment of its library in July 2012. With the help of the PTCA of BulSU-Meneses Campus, the campus administration started to build the project, which is "THE MAKING OF A LIBRARY". The project was headed by Mr. Larry Delos Santos, President of the local PTCA and its officers. To pursue this plan, a fund raising was conducted with the help of the BulSU Meneses Campus Administrator, Personnel, Faculty, and Students.