The multivolume catalogues of the University’s old books, periodicals, and collections were launched anew on Oct. 25 in “Semper Lumina,” an exhibit at the UST Miguel de Benavides Library.
“Semper Lumina,” first launched last May 5 at the EDSA Shangri-La Garden Ballroom, was a follow up to “Lumina Pandit,” the exhibition of UST’s rare books and collections during the Quadricentennial celebration.
The exhibit showcases old books – from 1492 up to the middle 1900s – housed at the Antonio Vivencio del Rosario Heritage section of the UST Library.
Volume 1 of the four-volume Semper Lumina covers 466 books printed between 1492 to 1600, while Volume 2 contains 5,861 published entries during the 17th to 19th centuries. Volume 3 brings together 1,964 Filipiniana collections, including a preserved original copy of Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere.” Volume 4 features rare periodicals like “La Solidaridad” and “La Independencia,” newspapers published during the Spanish colonial period.
Also featured in the exhibit were catalogues of single paged-materials, booklets, and tomes edited by University Archivist Regalado Trota Jose. These include, among others, published Thomasian literature, the Foundation Act of 1611 or the act of the official foundation of UST, Apolinario Mabini’s 1898 Decalogo and the 17th-century baybayin documents.
Digital library
In collaboration with Union Bank of the Philippines, the University also launched the UST Digital Library containing the heritage collection of the UST Library and Archives.
With the use of a high-grade leaf-casting machine, the historical collections of the University, some dating back to the 16th century, are being restored and preserved online.
As of writing, a total of 1.5 million pages have been scanned by the UST Library for restoration and online publication.
Other digitized versions of books and periodicals of the University, which total about 834,000 pages, can now be accessed through the website.
Semper Lumina runs until March 10, 2018 at the ground floor of the UST Library.
