Local studies centers: Transforming history, culture and heritage in the Philippines

This paper is an exploratory study of the specialized information centers, referred to as local studies centers, in three regions of the Philippines, namely, Central Luzon, CALABARZON and MIMAROPA. It aims to identify and describe the nature, practices and status of these centers and to explore their innovative and transformative role in the fields of history, culture and heritage studies in the Philippines. It examines the impact of their programs, projects, services, and activities on the study, development and promotion of these three fields. Some of the outstanding features of local studies centers in the Philippines that were identified include: 1) they collect materials pertaining to ethnic groups, and make the materials available and accessible to potential users, mostly in one center; 2) their holdings include library materials, archives and museum artefacts; 3) they conduct research and publish books, relating to history, culture and heritage of the localities they serve and the Philippines. This paper may provide insights for the management (or future establishment) of local studies centers not just in the Philippines, but also in other countries. This paper received the IFLA LIS Student Paper Award 2012.