Instituto Cervantes Manila’s (ICM) Miguel Hernández Library was established in 1993 with the help of Spanish Embassy in Manila. It has an expansive and diverse collection of more than 25,000 books, journals, films and discs, some of which periodically arrives from Madrid. These documents and audio-visual materials give emphasis on Spanish language and culture not just of Spain but of other Spanish-speaking countries as well. On top of these items, Miguel Hernández Library boasts of Filipiniana collection with ample materials and books and comics for children (12 years old and below) and learners of the Spanish language. For Instituto Cervantes Manila’s students like me, the library is a goldmine for telenovelas from Spain and Latin America. It has an almost up to date collection of popular, obscure or unheard-of TV series and award-winning films (with or without English/Spanish subtitles).
Instituto Cervantes Manila
The main door of Miguel Hernández Library
Sección Miguel Hernández inside the Miguel Hernández Library.
Inside the Miguel Hernández Library. The library is spacious, well-lit and well-maintained.
Miguel Hernández Library’s books on Historia y Crítica Literaria and Ciencias Sociales.
Miguel Hernández Library’s books on Geografía and Bibliografía.
Miguel Hernández Library’s books on Literatura and Religión.
Neatly-catalogued books at Miguel Hernández Library
Fillipiniana section of Miguel Hernández Library
Books for children at Miguel Hernández Library. They are divided into three sections, 0-6 years old, 7-9 years old and 10-12 years old, for easy reference. I used to borrow books for 7-9 and 10-12 years old when I was in levels 3 to 5. I had a hard time finishing the books for 10-12 years old. 🙂
Issues of Perro Berde mingle with DELE reviewers on the left shelf. The right shelf is filled with books and comics.
My favorite section, the audio-visual materials. Movies and series on the left and songs and concert recordings on the right.
The Escribo el Quijote continues in the confines of Miguel Hernández Library. The top photo shows a copy of Don Quijote de la Mancha and the bottom photo contains the book with handwritten content, copied from Miguel Cervantes’ work.
Comfortable chairs and tables waiting to be occupied by visitors at Miguel Hernández Library.
The use of the materials of Miguel Hernández Library is free. ICM students have library cards that give us the privilege to borrow four CD/DVD or two books at a time.
The library schedule is as follows: Mondays to Fridays: 9:00am – 6:00pm and Saturdays: 9:00am – 4:00pm.
For more information, please contact: Carlos Valmaseda Blanco (Chief Librarian) at bibmni@cervantes.es or the administrative assistant at bibxmni@cervantes.es.
To know more about Miguel Hernández Library, visit ICM’s website at http://manila.cervantes.es/en/default.shtm or its facebook page at www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila.
Echo de menos a mis amigos, compañeros de clase, profesores favoritos y en particular la lengua española…. La biblioteca es muy limpio…. es muy diferente ahora… hahahaha 😉
For the others who do not understand Spanish, Emee said, “I miss my friends, classmates and favorite professors, and in particular, Spanish. The library is very clean…it is very different now”.
Hi, Emee! I am not a frequent visitor of the library because I just visit it primarily to savor the coolness in the place courtesy of the aircon. 🙂 I used to borrow the telenovelas (El Barco, Seasons 1 and 2), but now Hope and Che provide me with copy of series and movies. 🙂
I think the library has always been clean and the books, orderly. I am a fan of the natural light coming in from the windows and of the high ceiling. They make everything appear bigger.