Every Filipino’s story has a home at the National Library of the Philippines (NLP), especially now that it has expanded to welcome more local books for all ages.
On November 7, 2025, the NLP unveiled its new and improved Children’s Library—a project that took two years to bring to fruition. After undergoing numerous upgrades and renovations, the learning hub is now ready to fulfill its mission of nurturing kids’ love for reading and Philippine literature.
Photo: National Library of the Philippines/Facebook
Since the project’s beginnings in 2023, the NLP Children’s Library has strived to empower Filipino authors and encourage kids to pick up a book despite living in a predominantly digital generation. Over the years, the NLP’s librarians of the Reference Division, also known as Kuwentistas, have diligently maintained the library’s facilities for children, particularly the diverse titles they offer.
The recently reopened Children’s Library offers a variety of engaging activities that help enrich children’s literacy and creativity. Here are the interactive learning hub’s new features that aim to inspire kids to let their imaginations take flight:
A Vibrant and Dynamic Environment
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Thanks to architect Maila Manalang-Moreno, visitors can now fully enjoy the NLP Children’s Library through its fun, colorful, and innovative space. Her visions and designs became the blueprint for a child-friendly environment that fosters curiosity among kids.
The newly renovated Children’s Library is full of brightly colored interiors, eye-catching play areas, and cozy lounges that kids (and the young at heart) will never get tired of. They won’t run out of activities that help them grow:
- They can explore reading rooms that resemble a mysterious cave and an enchanted forest,
- Brush up on Philippine culture with the library’s new titles and collections, as well as
- Nurture their playful spirits at the Funville Lounge with bean bags and a flat-screen television.
It wasn’t always easy for the NLP to fulfill its plans for the Children’s Library. Before the project began, the library’s on-site children’s services were suspended for a decade.
That’s why Cesar Adriano, Director of the NLP, expressed his utmost gratitude to Senators Pia Cayetano and Loren Legarda for funding the new learning hub. He also applauded the NLP’s Kuwentistas for promoting local literature before the Children’s Library existed.
New Titles at the NLP Children’s Library
Kids can pick up a handful of new Filipino children’s books at the Children’s Library, all of which spark conversations about growth, self-discovery, and community through inspiring characters, unique plots, and insightful themes.
The library’s vast selection of titles introduces readers to the local authors, illustrators, and publishers who’ve kept the genre alive and sparked positive social change through their work. Here are some of their stories that you can pick up and borrow from the NLP’s shelves:
- Ang Riles Sa Tiyan Ni Tatay, a touching tale by Eugene Y. Evasco about a father’s sacrifices,
- Mang Andoy’s Signs by Mailin Paterno, which features a signmaker who helps his unruly neighbors become law-abiding citizens, and
- Si Pilong Patago-tago by Kristine Canon, a story about a mischievous boy who thinks that life is one big game of hide-and-seek.
More Accessible Initiatives at the NLP
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The NLP and its facilities are free to the public. Upon entering, you’ll be given a library stub with a unique membership number to use on your next visit. Besides heading to the Children’s Library, you can also work and study at the designated reading rooms. You can browse the NLP’s cultural resources and exhibits, too.
You can drop by the NLP every Monday to Friday at Ermita, Manila, near Luneta. The library stays open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
ALSO READ: This Challenge Is Encouraging Everyone to Read Filipino Books This Buwan ng Wika
What do you think of the National Library’s new and improved children’s section? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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