O’Bikoliana is derived from three words: O’B, Fr. James O’Brien’s moniker; Bikol, the geographical place; and ‘aniana’, whose etymology in Spanish translates to “selected items of information.” Notably significant in the word O’Bikoliana are the first two letters that represent the moniker of the popular Fr. O’Brien, the Irish-American Jesuit priest who first came to Bikol to teach at the Ateneo de Naga in 1953.

He fell in love with the Bikol Region and its people, showed extraordinary interest in the region’s history and culture, and was the first to use the term “Maogmang Lugar” (The Happy Place) to describe the Bikol Region. He edited the book, “The Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Bicol People,” based on the many articles that he had asked his students to write.

O’Bikoliana is a repository of books, newspapers, magazines, research, serials, songs, videos, and rare Bikol materials on various formats and diverse subjects such as religion, literature, history, arts, and culture. It is primarily concerned with the acquisition and preservation of print and non-print materials.

O’Bikoliana is housed on the second floor of the James J. O’Brien, SJ, Library, Ateneo de Naga University. The O’Bikoliana Section is managed by the Ateneo de Naga University College Library in partnership with the Ateneo de Naga High School Class of 1966.