CMU Library-Then and Now

The CMU Library is an academic library basically, it provides books and other reading materials- print, non-print as well as electronic (off-line and online) resources to the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and administrators of the university.

It is located at the center of the University campus facing the University Convention Center (UCC). Its services are geared towards the attainment of the four-fold functions, namely: Instruction, Research, Extension, and Production. It strives to meet the demands of the faculty and students through its resources and services. 

In the early 60’s, the Library occupied three (3) rooms and a laboratory room at the College of Agriculture.  The two rooms served as the reading hall having a seating capacity of 156 persons.  The hall was small and not conducive for reading and research purposes.  It was later transferred to the unfinished building of the Bureau of Public Works which is now University Food and Lodging Services (UFLS).

The Library was later transferred to a three-storey permanent building in March 1977 through a CMU – World Bank loan.  It occupies the three-storey building which can accommodate 500 persons. Not long after, in the 1980s, the University Library established its reading rooms- initially in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and Veterinary Medicine. Later, one of the AACCUP accreditors during one of the AACCUP survey visits, recommended to establish additional reading rooms in the different colleges. Presently, it consists of nine (9) Reading Rooms located at the different colleges in the University as an extension of the Reserve Section of the University Library, namely: College of Human Ecology, College of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, College of Engineering, College of Education, College of Business and Management, and College of Nursing, wherein students could do their research in between classes without the hassle of going to the University Library. Each reading room has its Librarian/In-charge to serve its clients; most of them are professional Librarians. 

The Technical Processing or the cataloging and classification of library collection/materials is centralized at the University Library, where the Technical Section head is a licensed librarian. In 2013, the University Library procured its Follete Destiny Program to automate its library collection in the Circulation and loaning of books. Online Access Catalog (WebOPAC) is provided at the entrance of the ground floor, 2nd & 3rd floors for the clients easy and fast access to its collection.

On May 2016, the University Library received its budget allocation from the administration worth Three Million Pesos (P 3,000,000.00) for the rehabilitation/renovation of the ground floor to expand its space due to the increasing demands of the student population. This is for the provision of the Learning Commons- Instructional Media Center/Audio-Visual Room, Laptop users Area, Memorabilia Section, Lounge for General users, Person with Disabilities (PWD). A budget of Two Hundred Ninety-three thousand from STF-Library Fee was added to the glass partition of the Audio-Visual Room, and Discussion Room. 

In addition, the E-Library and Technical Processing Section were transferred from the 2nd floor to the right-wing and left-wing separate buildings;  both on the ground floor of the University Library.