The Library, being the center of academic life, is supportive to the diverse curricular programs of the university, its research endeavor, information needs, and cultural enrichment through the provision of quality and updated educational resources as required by the changing environment. It strives to assist the academe in embracing the vision, mission and core values of the institution as the trusted provider of relevant and functional information sources and distinctive services.
Historical Background
The birth of CSJ-R, now USJ-R, brought a one-man library that catered to the needs of the original 940 students and 20 teachers. The library offered the passive and traditional service of providing materials to the members of the academic community. It adopted the closed-shelf system that made the collection not readily accessible to the users.
In 1980, the institution ventured into improvements through standards (accreditation), spearheaded by Rev. Fr. Blas Montenegro, OAR. The library underwent a thorough evaluation of its resources both human and material. At the time of the accreditation, the staff was composed of six professional librarians, one support staff and 29 student assistants. During the re-accreditation in August 1984, the library had increased its staff to 10 professional librarians, two support staff and 43 student assistants. Inadequacy of the collection was remedied through the efforts to build up, update, and enrich library holdings of monographs, periodicals and other non-book materials along the curricular, research, informational, cultural and recreational needs of the members of the community.
The library continuously introduced activities to lend support in carrying out the library’s aim in reference to the goals of the institution. It has expanded and developed in terms of facilities, it has acquired additional space that houses the technical services section and the storage for old but usable books.
The library underwent a major physical renovation that started towards the end of SY 1984 and was finished in the early part of 1987. Complete repainting of the entire library, as well as the re-polishing of tables, chairs and shelves were done.
Another significant renovation of the Main Library took place from January to June 2002. Steel mezzanines were built to store the older and superseded editions of books, air conditioning units and new floor tiles were installed in, new furnishings were acquired, and new computers were purchased as workstations for librarians, Library.Solution Cataloging and Circulation Modules, Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) and CD-ROM collections. The Research Planning/Scholarship Center, the Graduate School office, the Graduate School seminar room, the Graduate School library and the Instructional Media Center (IMC) were relocated to give way to the new Main Library.
The automation of the library started in July 2002 using the Library.Solution as its application software. This includes the basic modules namely: cataloging, circulation and OPAC. Every year, the software license is renewed, and when necessary, upgrades and installations are carried out remotely by the provider’s technical support team.
To cater to the growing population of the university, the Main Library Extension at St. Ezekiel Moreno Bldg. and the Senior High School Library at Nuestra Señora De La Salud Bldg. were constructed in 2006 and 2017 respectively. Hence, some printed materials from the Main Library were transferred to these two Basak Campus libraries.
With the administration’s all – out support, the Library reiterates its commitment to be truly responsive to the needs of the members of the academic community and to assist the University in attaining its avowed goal- Quality Christian Community- Oriented Education.
Vision
The USJ-R Library System upholds the vision, mission and core values of the university by providing excellent resources and services to support its commitment to Quality Christian-Community Oriented Education.
Mission
The library’s goal is to diligently provide extensive library resources that promote dynamic Catholic education for the holistic formation of students, giving them the resources that they need to succeed in local and global communities.
Objectives
Main Campus Libraries
Main Library
Graduate School Library
Law Library
CPA-R Library
Basak Campus Libraries
Elementary Library
Junior High School Library
Senior High School Library
Main Library Extension
Instructional Media Centers
IMC Main Campus
IMC Basak Campus