Rizal Library Reinvents Itself through Virtual Library Services

Like the rest of the campus, the Rizal Library’s buildings are physically closed to students but the library’s services remain accessible to students 24/7 from anywhere in the world.

In 2006, the Ateneo de Manila University decided to build a new University library to house its growing collection. Completed in 2009, the new Rizal Library featured a South Wing for its circulation of books and a North Wing for its audiovisual archives and offices. Through its vast resources, it has remained an integral component of the Ateneo education, dedicated to its mission of providing information and service supporting the teaching, research, and community service functions of the Loyola Schools.

The Rizal Library has served as a sanctuary for generations upon generations of Ateneans. Many Loyola Schools students consider it their favorite spot to read, study, do group work, print their papers, borrow books, use computers, and even watch movies, or play board games. It is also every Atenean’s go-to for research.The library holds a vast collection of books, e-books, e-serials, historical and personal archives of Filipino writers and artists, as well as Filipiniana materials. Furthermore, it houses online databases and a repository that can be accessed 24/7.

The Rizal Library has not wavered in providing service and support to the community even during the onslaught of the pandemic. This is due to its hybrid setup of being both a physical and digital library even before the pandemic. “The library today is not the library from when I graduated in 1995 and even up to 2005. Now, anytime of the day, and anywhere you may be, you can access the library,” says Rizal Library Director Dr. Von Totanes. 

To cater to the demands of online learning, Totanes and his team have re-examined and further tailored their services. For example, they made online databases like the Harvard Business School cases, ScienceDirect journal articles, and JoVE videos available off-campus. Additionally, the Rizal Library took the initiative to secure off-campus access to existing database subscriptions previously limited to on-campus access. The Rizal Library also offered a digitization service where a copy of a publication is scanned and emailed to a student upon request, as long as such requests adhered to intellectual property laws.

Webinars, virtual town hall meetings, and training on using Rizal Library services resources have aided students and researchers throughout the school year. While these were already in place pre-pandemic, initiatives such as the Search and Cite Rizal Library Information Expo all the more served as lifelines in online learning.

The Rizal Library also created an online helpdesk where librarians designated per Loyola School are on hand to respond to student and researcher queries and requests. Library ambassadors who are students trained in navigating the resources of the Rizal Library also cater to the needs of the community.

The Rizal Library pioneered the program that lent WiFi devices to financially challenged students to bridge the digital divide. Eventually, this initiative was passed on to the Office of Student Services and expanded to laptop and computer lending. 

“We are here to help you. The Rizal Library is your friend. We are always trying to reach out, but we won’t always know when you need help. So help us to help you,” says Totanes.

To tell the Rizal Library how they can help you, please send your messages via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For more information on accessing the Rizal Library online services and resources, visit bit.ly/rl_lsone and contact your designated librarian.