A NEW Rizal Library, described as “an iconic structure” and “temple of knowledge,” will rise right across the “old” Rizal Library.
The new lib, which will be constructed where the Meron Pond is currently located, will begin construction either at the end of November or on the first week of December and will be complete after nine months, said Rizal Library Director Lourdes David.
“In the entire Philippines, very few libraries have what we have,” she said. The new library aims to give students better services, as well as an improved outlook on the Ateneo’s libraries in terms of higher education, said David.
A ceremony on November 4, attended by University officials, personnel, and special guests, marked the new lib’s groundbreaking.
Tall and spacious
The building was designed by Rchitects, Inc., led by architect Bong Recio. It will be a five-storey structure and will be the tallest building in campus when completed.
David said that the new lib will have two buildings: a north block and a south block. Everything in the current Rizal Library will be moved to the new building except for the special collections.
Besides being at the apex of the whole campus, the site of the new lib is close to Katipunan Avenue. This will make it easily accessible to students who will be coming from outside the school, said David.
The site of the new lib was also chosen because of the space that it can provide around the structure, she added.
David said, “The Ateneo campus always provides space in between buildings: green, airy. So we thought that perhaps we could put it over the Meron Pond [where] we [can] create one quadrangle between Leong, Rizal Library, Dela Costa, where students can mingle around.”
New equipment
Regular library visitor Leandro Ismael Ferrer (III BS MIS) said that he expects the new library to contain new equipment such as computers and photocopying machines.
David said that new sets of computers with liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors can be expected with the new library. “We cannot throw away what we have but we will definitely have new [equipment],” she said.
Besides new equipment, there will also be new furniture such as tables and sofas.
“I hope that it will serve our students in a better way, so that we will really be able to provide them with service that they want and they need,” said David.
David also hopes students will regard the new library as a temple of knowledge as rooms for group discussions, called information commons, will also be provided.
A green building
David said that the new lib will be environmentally-friendly.
She said that the building would contain double piping that would gather rainwater to flush the water closets. The orientation of the building was also designed in to minimize entering sunlight, in order to conserve electricity.
Other elements such as lights, and the addition of a water element for natural cooling, were also considered.
“We [also] considered the need of students for electrical outlets for their laptops, wifi, as well as wired access to the Internet. And most of all, we considered the student’s need for a place where they can really study, [and] access electronic resources,” added David.
Beneath the building will also be a water reservoir that will recycle water, which was the purpose of the Meron Pond.
David said that the reservoir is not the Meron Pond. She added that “definitely, we will remove the Meron Pond.”
With reports from Sasha D.P. Lim Uy
