CDNLAO Newsletter
No. 57, November 2006
- Definition of Rare Books
- About your library's rare books collection
- Managing Department of Rare Books Collection
- Terms of use of rare books collection
- Photocopy service of rare books collection
- Loan service of rare books
- Management of rare books collection
- Cataloging of rare books collection
- Training of rare books librarians
- Management of the reading room for your rare books collection
- Microfilming and digitization of rare books collection
1. Definition of Rare Books
1.1 How does your library define "rare books"? If there are different definitions according to the types of materials, please specify, e.g. Western materials, Islamic materials, Far Eastern materials, etc.
As provided for in the 1967 National Library Survey and Development Plan, the following criteria were adapted in determining rare books in the Filipiniana Division:
- All books on the Philippine printed before 1945;
- All books printed in the Philippines prior to 1945;
- All books belonging to the Tabacalera Collection;
- Notable specimens of bookmaking, illustrations, and binding;
- All early and rare Philippine manuscripts including the originals of Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo and Ultimo Adios of Dr. Jose Rizal; and
- All out-of-print Filipiniana books of great historical value.
1.2 How does your library authorize the designation of rare books based on the above definition? For example, does your library have a committee to designate rare books?
Yes, Book Selection Committee
2. About your library's rare books collection
2.1 How many titles/volumes of rare books does your library hold? How many of them are Western, Islamic or Far Eastern, etc?
Titles - 8,135
Volumes - 14,722
2.2 Give some examples that are considered the most precious of your library’s rare books collection.
- Tabacalera Collection
- Incunabula
- Rizal Collection
3. Managing Department of Rare Books Collection
3.1 Is there any section or reading room which is dedicated only to rare book collections?
Yes
If yes, please give the name of the section and reading room.
Rarebooks and Manuscript Section
How many seats are there in the reading room and what hours is it open?
16 chairs for 2 tables
8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
3.2 What other collections are managed together with your rare books collection?
- Rare Serials
- Manuscripts (Papers of Manuel L. Quezon, Sergio Osmena, Carlos P. Garcia, and Philippine Revolutionary Papers)
3.3 Please give the name of the section and reading room which serve your rare books collection.
Rarebooks and Manuscript Section
4. Terms of use of rare books collection
4.1 Do you prescreen applications to use the rare books collection?
Yes
4.2 Are there any specific qualifications that you set up for users of your rare books collection, such as a doctoral degree?
- Post-Graduate Students
- Professors
- Foreign Researchers
5. Photocopy service of rare books collection
5.1 How do you accept requests for photocopy of your rare books collection?
- We do not accept requests for photocopy.
- Only microfilming
5.2 How do you handle requests for color photocopy?
We do not accept color photocopy
6. Loan service of rare books
6.1 Do you loan out rare books?
No
6.2 Do you loan out rare books for exhibitions?
No
If yes, do you loan out rare books to overseas institutions for exhibitions?
No
7. Management of rare books collection
7.1 Are there stacks or storage spaces which only store rare books?
Yes
If yes, what are the differences of the rare books stacks from other stacks?
- GENERAL BOOK/ THESES AND DISSERTATION SECTION
- PECIAL COLLECTION SECTION
- ERIALS SECTION (1946-PRESENT)
How large are the rare books stacks, and how many rare books can be stored in them?
- 31×10 meters
- Rarebooks - 14,722 Vols.
- Rare Serials - 2,474 Vols.
- Manuscript - 4,126 Boxes
8. Cataloging of rare books collection
8.1 Which section/unit of your library does the cataloging work for rare books?
Catalog Division of the National Library of the Philippines
8.2 Do you set any differences in cataloging rare books and other general books?
No
8.3 What formats of catalogs have been made for your rare books collections?
- Book catalog
- Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC)
- Microfilm
- Others
- DVD
- On-line-Phil.elib.gov.ph
9. Training of rare books librarians
9.1 Do you have any training courses specifically targeted for rare books librarians?
No, there is a dire need for it.
10. Management of the reading room for your rare books collection
10.1 Are there any tools or equipment that are provided for readers of rare books in the reading room?
Guides for each:
- Rarebooks
- Rare Serials
- Manuscripts
10.2 Are there any specific items that you prohibit users from bringing in or using in the reading room where the rare books collection is served? For example, ball point pens.
Yes
If yes, please specify
Foods, Drinks, Bags, Cameras, Satchels
11. Microfilming and digitization of rare books collection
11.1 Have you done microfilming of your rare books collection? If yes, what percentage of your rare books collection has been microfilmed?
100%
11.2 Have you done digitization of your rare books collection? If yes, what percentage of your rare books collection has been digitized?
50%
11.3 Have you created digital library collections? If yes, what percentage of your digital library collections is made of rare books?
50%
11.4 If you have created a digital library specialized in your rare books collection, please give the name and URL.
Copyright (C)2006 National Library of the Philippines
