ORTIGAS FOUNDATION LIBRARY - WEEK 1
- CHRISTIAN NOE BONGALBAL
- Jul 12, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 13, 2025
(APRIL 22 to APRIL 25)
A. MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES
It has been a constant reminder to myself that I should hit the ground running the moment I entered the Ortigas Foundation Library. So, I made sure that even on our first two work-from-home days, I was productive and brought the same perseverance and capacity to the institution as I can perform in a face-to-face setting. Together with my co-interns, Sem and Iñigo, I was able to encode the previous work of former interns in terms of journal indices. Also, I have encoded and identified books and materials with the same title. I admit that it was tiring and challenging, as I was only faced with scanning their 21,000 volumes on my computer, but I was glad enough that I could handle it. But the highlight of this week is when we reported onsite, and we assisted with the book donation drive where OFL is generous enough for allowing me to bag all of the Geronimo Stilton Collection, which I am planning to donate to Paco Catholic School since I observed that the students there were fond of the adventure of an old, white mouse. Also, I finally experienced using the Library of Congress classification and subject heading manually since I have cataloged varieties of books, Filipiniana, and Sotheby Showcase books. We also learned one of their peculiar practices, which is their book covering without any use of tapes. It’s very unique yet intriguing since we have to use a heat-powered sealer as if it’s we are repacking salt and pepper in a sari-sari store.
B. LESSONS LEARNED
This has been a very funny and yet contrasting realization I had when this week arrived. As much as I love online classes and online learning, I loathe working from home. Especially that if the workload is bombarding at first glance, which in our case is the identification and re-encoding of multiple titles. I guess that if we had worked it onsite, it would not be as tiring and bombarding since there is interaction between my co-interns and me. Also, I found their practice of covering books challenging since, from the start of this internship program, I have been true to myself that I don’t like covering. And now that OFL’s is kind of unique and elevated, it’s like I have faced my inner fear. But luckily, I managed to learn it and get used to it with the help of Miss Mildred, one of the conservators in OFL. Also, it’s fascinating to re-shelve and reorganize the OFL collection, as it houses manuscripts and books from the 1500s. So I learned to adjust and handle the collections carefully. I have also realized that there are times the tasks given were inconsistent, so I have adjusted and managed to complete every assignment handed to us by our supervisors.
C. BEST PRACTICES/FEATURES OF THE LIBRARY
Before visiting the library, I had heard from Iñigo that OFL sells souvenirs and books grounded in Philippine culture and history, and I was astounded to witness it on the shelf.
I think that is a great practice I have observed, especially that the funds it accumulates are being used on prospects of the Ortigas Foundation Library, so whenever there is an event or symposium, it is well utilized. Speaking of events, the Ortigas Foundation Library makes sure that despite having limited space, they can still conduct certain projects such as film showings, seminars, and conferences. They have these “foldable” walls that they just manipulate to maximize their space. Their conservation room and them having conservators are very exquisite and unique, well technically they are a special library, but to be exposed to it in person is a great way to learn from it. Also, though I find it a bit challenging, their way of covering books is so distinct. We have to be precise with how we cut those plastics since minimal errors in measurement result in us repeating the same process, and it will require us more plastic and more time, and I appreciate the gravity of why their practice is so intricate–it is due to the nature of their material, having books that can be date back to 1500s.
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