Bicol school to build 4-story library to revive reading culture

IRIGA CITY — A university in this city is building a four-story library designed to inspire students to rediscover the value of reading by combining traditional learning spaces with modern technology.

The University of Saint Anthony (USANT) in Camarines Sur announced on Friday (July 10) that the Santiago D. Ortega Jr. Memorial Library, targeted for completion in time for the university’s 80th anniversary in February 2027, will feature a contemporary design with expansive windows and spacious interiors that maximize natural light, creating a calm environment for reading and academic work.

Lawyer Emmanuel “Mickey” Ortega, president of the nonprofit educational institution with more than 10,000 students, said the new academic facility aims to encourage students to embrace reading and learning despite their growing dependence on digital devices.

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The state-of-the-art learning center will accommodate up to 1,000 users and will include a spacious lobby, reading halls, discussion rooms, computer laboratories, an oral defense room, individual study carrels, and a café where students can recharge during long study hours.

Ortega said libraries have evolved beyond being repositories of printed books into hubs for accessing knowledge through reliable internet connectivity, digital resources, and comfortable study spaces.

“That building can make them feel that they can. We hope it becomes a portal for them to see the future and what is possible,” Ortega said.

He said providing an environment conducive to learning is just as important as making educational resources available.

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The 39-year-old university president said his vision for the project was inspired by his exposure to libraries and university campuses abroad.

“We have been so blessed to be able to see the world at a very young age, and that is what we want to bring here. We know that not many students will have that opportunity—not yet—but we want them to have that,” he said.

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Ortega returned to the Philippines to lead the university after the death of his father in 2022, leaving behind a newly established legal career in the United States.

He passed the Philippine Bar Examination in 2019 and the California Bar Examination in 2021. /das

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