The library is open, literally: Freelipiniana opens its virtual doors for readers in quarantine

If you’ve already gone through your new books and your old favorites during quarantine, don’t worry. You can browse through the University of The Philippines’ Institute of Creative Writing’s (UP ICW) Freelipiniana Online Library for your next read.

The project aims to bring Filipiniana literature closer to those in quarantine. Many published works in this genre aren’t easily accessible because they have not yet been digitized. The online library fixes that and opens the door for more readers to consume local text for leisure and for research.

THE FREELIPINIANA ONLINE LIBRARY IS NOW OPEN!

Read the full introduction and how-to at https://t.co/sBolWUnhiQ before you visit the archives at https://t.co/XhYcNqrGcq.

Para sa malayang pagbabasa sa gitna ng pandemya!#Freelipiniana #FreeBooks pic.twitter.com/vfCIdyU33H

— LIKHAAN: UP Institute of Creative Writing (@LIKHAAN) June 15, 2020

Aside from that, it’s also a way for local writers and publishers to showcase their works for old fans and even new readers who are looking to expand their reading lists. The library houses full-length books, poetry collections, anthologies and zines and divides them into six sections: fiction, poetry, nonfiction, drama, graphic literature and children’s literature. Some of the works will be available for download so you can read even if your Wi-Fi is failing you.

In their statement, they hope that the works that they have curated will “help [readers] grow, heal, and move forward through this pandemic.” Though the new collection is still small, UP ICW wants everyone to learn and enjoy. “…[W]e look forward to gathering and offering you more titles for more free learning. Education doesn’t have to be unsafe for it to continue.”

Filling up the library is undoubtedly not an easy task, so UP ICW is still extending the call for writers to submit published works. For readers who can’t wait to get their hands on a new (e-)book, indulge yourself, and read away. Quarantine’s extended anyway—might as well explore new stories instead of baking yet another banana bread loaf.

Photo by Perfecto Capucine on Unsplash

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