Miguel de Benavides Library, library at University of Santo Tomas
The Miguel de Benavides Library is an academic library at the University of Santo Tomas in Sampaloc, Manila, housed in a modern six-story building. It offers reading rooms, discussion rooms, computer stations, and a Heritage Library section dedicated to old books published before the 20th century.
The library was founded in 1605 when Fray Miguel de Benavides, who later gave his name to the institution in 2008, donated his personal book collection to start it. After the original building in Intramuros was damaged, it moved several times before settling in its current location in Sampaloc in 1989.
The library holds a collection of Baybayin documents, written in an old Philippine script that was used before the colonial period and that very few people can read today. Alongside this, visitors can consult the personal book collection of Filipino writer Nick Joaquin, which fills several shelves with rare titles.
Access for students requires a valid digital student ID, and a dress code applies that prohibits sleeveless tops and very short skirts. Food and drinks are only allowed in the cafe area, so plan your visit accordingly if you intend to stay for a long time.
The library switched to a fully automated system in 1998, replacing the traditional card catalog with software that manages loans and returns. At the time, this made it one of the first libraries in the Philippines to adopt this kind of system on a full scale.
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