People of various ages flock to Valenzuela City Library to indulge in reading. (Photo Courtesy: Valenzuela City Library) 

Valenzuela City’s public library, also known as the Valenzuela City Academic Center for Excellence (ValACE) has gone viral on social media after recording a total of 440,883 visitors since its opening on February 24 until December last year.

ValACE is a six-storey building that primarily houses various educational facilities such as a public library, study hall, and training center. The public library is home to 16,000 book titles for readers of all ages.

The library also has several great features for visitors.

On the first floor, there is a cozy reading lounge. Children can also enjoy story time, arts, and games in the children's area. Senior citizens can read and relax in their own section too.

On the second floor, there is a shelf displaying books by Valenzuelanos who topped board exams. Computers with free internet are available on the third floor. For late night studying, the "Quiet Hall" stays open until midnight.

Visitors can relax on comfy couches and bean bags. The library's hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. With activities for all ages and comfy spots, the new library is a wonderful community space.

“With education as one of our flagship priorities, you can count on the City Government’s commitment to continue to strive and support each Valenzuelano to excel in their studies and achieve their goals,” said Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian during the opening of the library in February 2023. 

The first three (3) storeys of ValACE are essentially dedicated to the public library. Many students visit the library because of its helpful amenities that truly meet their learning needs. 

Study Desks

If you want to do some self-study, the library has plenty of individual study desks with overhead bins and cable wire holes. You do not have to worry about accessing your online learning modules because all library visitors are given free Wi-Fi vouchers for them to use during their stay.

Reading Nooks 

Who does not want to read books in a cozy nook? This is why even if you are visiting the library by yourself or with your friends and classmates, the city library provides you with options where you can indulge in reading. 

Local Section 

The city library offers a wide variety of reading resources from local to foreign literature and other academic references. However, one of the unique sections of the library is the “Read Local” which features different books that are either written by national artists or local authors from Valenzuela. This reflects the commitment of the city to further enrich its cultural landscape. 

Topnotchers’ Shelf 

Another unique feature of the city library is the “Topnotchers’ Shelf” which gives honor to Valenzuela residents who have excelled in their academic pursuits as Board Exam Topnotchers. The dedicated shelf also aims to spark inspiration among students. 

Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC)

Similar to a library catalog, OPAC is a database of resources that makes it easy for library-goers to search for the availability of reading or learning materials they are interested in. 

Cubby holes for personal items 

If you will go to the library straight from school or other places, it might be a burden to carry all your personal belongings while roaming the sections. This is where the cubby holes come in to help you. You can use these to temporarily keep your personal items during your stay. 

Children's Area

There is a dedicated space for children in the city library. Aside from reading on their own, they can also participate in collective reading sessions through the “Halika Na! Storytime” program of the city library where everyone can be a volunteer storyteller. The area also houses a separate breastfeeding room for mothers who need a private space for weaning. 

What if there’s more than one ValACE? 

Towards the goal of becoming a “reading city,” the local government of Valenzuela is set to establish another three (3) ValACE in Barangays Gen. T. De Leon, Marulas, and Mapulang Lupa. 

The groundbreaking for the said building projects transpired last Thursday, February 8, in line with the city’s commitment to provide inclusive and accessible learning spaces for residents. 

The soon-to-rise reading and learning hubs will be designed to supplement the available educational facilities in the first ValACE. These will house, among others, a mini public library, study hall with self-study cubicles and a communal review lounge, computer laboratory, training rooms with 50-seating capacity, multi-purpose hall, and a cafeteria. 

“Valenzuela City takes education earnestly. As the city continuously enriches the Valenzuelano youth and makes literacy attainable for everyone, this initiative is also a call for neighboring cities in Metro Manila to establish more libraries in their local communities — working toward a brighter and more promising future for our youth,” the city government highlighted. (JMP/PIA-NCR)