Verily, with the birth of the college also came about the organization of the library. San Beda College was established at the Arlegui in June 19, 1901. Within the confines of two storey building was a room set aside for the library. The private collections of the Fathers mostly in Spanish, and a few books purchased and donated to the College, resulted in the humble beginning of the library to cater to the needs of the graders, high schoolers and a few of college men. There was no permanent and formally trained librarian. The books were unclassified and uncataloged.
The need for a healthier surrounding and greater space for an ever increasing enrolment forced the Benedictine Fathers and students to transfer the school to its present site, Mendiola. The first two rooms adjacent to the church, southwing of the college, were assigned for the library. Records show that as of December 8, 1941 there were 6,593 volumes. From 1942-45, the college compound became some kind of a "quarter" for the Japanese. Taking advantage of the benevolence of the Japanese, the Fathers conducted a bit of schoolwork and catechism, the enrolment reaching a peak of 200 students. During this year, the library was kept intact.
The end of WW II brought spectacular changes not only in the annual increase of enrolment but also in buildings and facilities. To provide a more spacious place for the Bedans for their research, personal reading and lesson preparation, the whole first floor of the once auditorium was converted into library. Formally trained and professional librarians were employed and the collections were organized according to Dewey Decimal Classification System.
The collection increased by leaps and bounds through the unending purchase as the years gradually elapsed. A serious need was felt to decentralize the library. Thus, in 1963, the college library was transferred to the newly
constructed St. Anselm Bldg. Located on the second floor is air-conditioned Concon Library named after its donor alumnus, Gregorio Concon, who partly financed its construction. It has a total floor area of 762 sq. m., more than half the second floor. The mezzanine (196 sq. m.) is set aside as the Periodicals Section.
With the increased in enrolment, there was a need to extend the College Library. First, in 1984, the St. Anselm Extension Building was constructed. A 324 sq. m. floor area was alloted for the LAW Library. Then in June 1995, the College libraries were transferred to the St. Maur’s Hall. The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Library occupies the Second floor while the LAW and GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS LIBRARIES are housed at the Third floor.
The growth of the library was tremendous. All the libraries are air-conditioned. Individual carrels replaced the long tables. Indexes, legal materials, Filipiniana, reference and circulation materials are computerized. A centralized processing office was created. It takes charge of organizing the materials of the five (5) libraries, i.e., Grade School, High School, CAS, LAW and Graduate School of Business, and the Abbey Library.
