The NLP Network: A Collaborative Project between the National Library of the Philippines and select Academic Libraries in Metro Manila

Abstract

In 2013, the National Library of the Philippines(NLP) catered to more than 150,000 library users. This comprised mostly of undergraduate and graduate students undertaking their research works. This number increased by more than 10% in the last year. However, it was also during this time that the library building began its retrofitting services. In November of 2014, the library had reached a major phase of its retrofitting and was forced to closed its doors to the public. With its clientele left with nowhere to go, the library reached out to various academic libraries that were in the area and formed a library network to address the needs of these users.

The poster highlights the best practices of the network with regards to library space lending, resource sharing and community building through joint library services. We hope to empower other public libraries to form networks and consortia in order to supplement their users' needs without having to send anyone away empty-handed. It also improved and strengthened existing partnerships within these libraries to overcome barriers in serving the common goal of interconnecting with each other. It also paved the way for the Registry of Cultural Property to be developed in order to provide access to all.