Changes are a constant in any institution, and in 2025, the College of Science Libraries (CS Libraries) did more than adapt, we thrived. Amid transitions in leadership within both the library and the College, we embraced change with courage, resilience, and purpose. As education and research landscapes continued to evolve and the role of libraries have long expanded beyond traditional academic boundaries, the CS Libraries remained steadfast in responding to the diverse and growing needs of our community. This year’s narrative highlights how we uplifted students, faculty, and researchers through inclusive services, innovative learning environments, and accessible science resources. Guided by our mission and vision, we continue to build a community where curiosity flourishes, knowledge is shared freely, and every learner feels welcomed and empowered to help shape a sustainable and future-ready society.

The accomplishments of the CS Libraries in 2025 reflect our collective grit and passion for service, driven by a deep commitment to cultivating a library community where everyone feels valued, supported, and inspired to imagine a brighter and more sustainable future.

• In terms of engagement, the College of Science Library (Central Library) recorded a 16.9% increase in library visits, while the Institute Libraries registered a 7.7% increase, resulting in an overall 13.6% growth across the CS Libraries. These figures underscore the growing visibility, relevance, and trust in our libraries, not only within the College of Science, but also across the UP System, and other non-UP researchers.

• Key service enhancements this year significantly strengthened accessibility and user experience. The upgraded CS Libraries website, expanded personalized support in Institute Libraries, the continued growth of the eBook Hub, and strengthened online communication channels collectively advanced digital literacy and improved user satisfaction. Notably, we observed a shift in service utilization patterns: while manual services such as circulation declined in CS Library (14.6%↓) and some Institute Libraries, engagement with digital services increased, as reflected in higher eBook Hub registrations (1.9%↑), logins (17.2%↑) and views (14.8%↑). This transition affirms our strategic direction toward flexible, technology-enabled access to information.

• Research and extension initiatives further empowered our academic community. We received a total of 93 Research and Data Services requests this year, an astounding 244.4% increase from last year. The nature of requests include accreditation support for the Institute of Biology’s AUN-QA accreditation process, trainings and workshops for NSRI researchers on Turnitin Similarity Index and AI Assessment Reports generation and interpretation, library orientations, and research data services, including plagiarism checking and certification, bibliometric services, journal, publisher verifications, among others that contributed meaningfully to the pursuit of academic excellence among students, faculty, and researchers.

• At the same time, updated guidelines and manuals of procedures fostered transparency, efficiency, and standardization across operations. The CS Library Citizen’s Charter is updated at the beginning of each regular semester to reflect operational changes. The RDS Manual of Procedures is also constantly maintained to include new requests and process changes. A new manual, the Digital Tools & Software Utilization Manual of Procedures, is currently in development to guide the CS Libraries staff in using the latest and free tools that can help them with their tasks and equip them with digital skills they may need for future instances.

• Collection development remained robust through the acquisition of 124 new titles, strategic database endorsements, and continuous weeding to ensure high-quality, relevant holdings. Digitization and eBook harvesting is also consistent this year with 410 eBooks added to the CSLIB eBook Hub. As of the end of 2025, the CSLIB eBook hub holds a total of 5,297 eBooks available and accessible for all registered eBook Hub users.

• Throughout this year, CSLIB organized multiple wellness activities catering to the students during finals weeks with occasional fun activities to foster community participation with the CSLIB users. Last February, the annual Valentine’s celebration was revamped with additional activities initiating more engagement. During the hell weeks, exam stress relief activities were organized. For the AY 2024-2025 2nd semester finals, the Color the Stress Away activity was initiated and was participated by more than 300 students. For the AY 2025-2026 Midterms, Calm Quest: Where Logic Meets Leisure, an OJT-led activity was held. These activities let the students slow down, take a breath, and recharge even for a bit from the pressures of academics.

• This year, CSLIB catered four batches of Library and Information Science undergraduate OJTs. Two from the Bulacan State University (2nd Semester AY 24-25 & 1st Semester AY 25-26) and another two from the UP SLIS (2nd Semester AY 24-25 & Midyear 2025) with a total of 21 OJTs from both schools. As part of its extension and capacity-building initiatives, the College of Science Libraries continues to welcome LIS undergraduate students seeking OJT and work immersion opportunities, fostering learning, mentorship, and service in the field of librarianship.

• One of the year’s most defining moments was the CS Libraries’ bold and creative celebration of LIS Month 2025, themed LACE-UP: Libraries – A Hub for Cultural Exploration and Unity Through Partnership. Through its original flagship activity, Tales from the Stacks: Quest Across the Science Realms, the CS Libraries transformed into interconnected realms of discovery. This college-wide adventure introduced a fully gamified experience through the first-ever CS Libraries Trading Card Series. Fifty-three (53) registrations coming from College of Science (CS), SLIS, College of Architecture (CA), College of Engineering, CSSP, School of Statistics, CAL, and College of Education were received but only the participants from the CS, CA and SLIS prevailed in completing the quests. Tales from the Stacks became a shared adventure that reinvigorated student engagement and deepened connections to library services. The LIS Month 2025 celebration truly embodied its theme, championing exploration, strengthening partnerships, and uniting staff, students, and Institute Libraries in a vibrant, collaborative experience.

Beyond these major milestones, the CS Libraries continued to deliver its regular services seamlessly throughout the year. The 24/7 Study Nook remained a vital academic haven, especially during peak examination periods, serving students from multiple colleges with an estimated 69,857 users. In keeping with its annual and semestral tradition, CSLIB Pakain once again provided snacks, drinks, and evening meals for students who stayed overnight in the Study Nook. During the second semester of AY 2024–2025, this initiative was further enriched through a partnership with the UP School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) Library for a special edition, Kapit Lang, Kape Lang: Treats Week that was able to serve 350 evening meals (70 per night) in addition to the snacks. The CS Libraries also sustained meaningful collaborations with the College of Science Student Council and the CS OADMAPA through continued participation in the Freshie Tour and Graduate Student Orientation.

As we continued to push boundaries and pursue improvement, we also faced persistent challenges such as limited physical space, intermittent internet connection, aging infrastructure, rising costs of library materials (particularly electronic resources), and gaps in research and IT skills amid broader resource constraints. Each challenge, however, became an opportunity for reflection, innovation, and renewed commitment. Ultimately, the year reaffirmed our shared mission: to provide equitable access to knowledge, foster lifelong learning, and contribute to a sustainable future for the CS community.

These milestones are more than statistics or completed projects. They represent the trust placed in us by the students, faculty, and researchers who journey with us every day. Despite the challenges, our commitment to creating inclusive spaces, accessible resources, and transformative learning experiences remains unwavering. With hearts grounded in service and a vision anchored in excellence, we move forward with renewed passion and clarity. Amid constant change, we remain your steadfast and trustworthy CS Libraries, evolving with the times, yet always rooted in service.

Full Report: CSLIB Annual Report 2025

Prepared by: RES Librarians