Libraries aren't only found in schools. Local governments have also put out their own, like the Valenzuela City Public Library and Quezon City Public Library, for the benefit of their communities. And then there are privately funded ones like the Ortigas Foundation Library, which transferred to a new spot at Greenhills Shopping Center (right above Unimart) in San Juan in 2021. Admission to the library is free with no membership fees required. They also recently allowed walk-ins, so you can just drop by anytime.
Special Collection of the Ortigas Foundation Library
The Ortigas Foundation Library boasts a private collection with titles specializing in Philippine history. Some of its references date all the way back to the 17th century.
The library has over 35,000 reference books, more than 9,000 photographs and postcards, over 300 magazines and newspapers, and more than a hundred rare maps. All these are housed in two rooms: the Main Collection Room, which holds the general collection; and the Rare Book Room, which is temperature- and humidity-controlled 24/7 to keep the delicate materials in good condition.
While entrance to the library is free, visitors are encouraged to buy from their Library Shop to help fund their operations. Book donations, including encyclopedias, dictionaries, children's textbooks, Filipiniana books, technical books (with copyright not older than 2018), and English-language novels, are also more than welcome. Just make sure to send an e-mail to cruzcc@ortigasfoundation.com.ph for book donation inquiries.
Ortigas Foundation Library is at 2/F McKinley Building, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City. It is open from Monday to Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, follow Ortigas Foundation Library on Facebook.
* This story originally appeared on Spot.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
