History

A vital facility of a learning institution is the library, a repository of knowledge and reference of learning. 

How the library evolved into what it is now can be traced to the following events:

The Cebu Doctors’ College of Nursing was opened in 1973 under the deanship of Dean Filomena C. Flores.  Its Library was situated on the 5th floor of the present hospital building. This was manned by a Librarian in the person of Miss Elizabeth Muñez (nee Cagalawan).  Subsequently, the College of Arts and Sciences was opened in 1976 with a separate library located on the fifth floor of the Dentistry Building.  This Library was under the supervision of Miss Choly Jumapao and later by Miss Emma Modequillo. In 1977, the College of Medicine also put up its own Library on the fourth floor of the CDH building.

In 1983-1987 Mrs. Virginia R. Ablanque served as the Head of the Library of the College of Arts & Sciences. The necessity to consolidate and centralize all reading materials and references for students, faculty and staff was acutely felt in the CDC academic community with its growth in later years, more so with the addition of allied medical disciplines and more departments.

In line with the institution's objectives to offer more health-oriented courses, other colleges were opened:  College of Optometry (CDCO) and the College of Dentistry (CDCD), both in 1980’s, College of Allied Medical Sciences (CDCAMS) in 1982 and College of Rehabilitative Sciences (CDCRS) in 1992.

In 1988, Mrs. Maria Lourdes N. Alegarbes replaced Mrs. Virginia R. Ablanque as the Head of the Arts & Sciences Library, which was then called the CDCI Library.  At this time, the Library was transferred from the Dentistry Building to the College of Nursing Building, fusing the Nursing Library and the Arts & Sciences Library into one.  This one Library was headed by Mrs. Maria Lourdes N. Alegarbes with Mrs. Elizabeth C. Muñez as the Nursing Librarian.  This effort was made in response to the recommendation of the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) to have a centralized library.

To make the collection accessible to its users, a separate Library was built for the College of Dentistry and Optometry in the area vacated by the Arts & Sciences Library.  This Library was still under the supervision of Mrs. Maria Lourdes N. Alegarbes.

In June 1990, Mrs. Hannah V. Cannen was officially appointed as the Consultant/Director of Library Services.  In March 1994, Mrs. Cannen's unwavering pursuit of consolidating all libraries into one center bore fruit when the library found its permanent place on the second floor of the new CDCI Main Building. 

This Library houses the collection of books and other reference materials of all colleges except for the College of Medicine, having its own Library on the fourth floor of the hospital building. Within the Main Library was a Graduate School Library provided to accommodate the needs of the graduate and postgraduate students.   

With the retirement of Mrs. Cannen, in May 1999, Mrs. Emeline C. Baco became the Chief Librarian.   Automated facilities such as the MICRO-CDS/ISIS Software for indexing periodical articles and online databases were made available for quick and easy retrieval of information.   

An Internet Room was put up to give students the chance to be updated with the current trends in information technology. 

On February 8, 2005, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) granted the Cebu Doctors' College a University status. Having been granted as RP’s first Medical University, the Main Library conceptualized its new vision, mission, and objectives appropriate to a University Library. The Library envisioned a fully automated Library that could accommodate at least 20% of the population, equipped with modern facilities, sufficient quality materials, effective and efficient operating procedures for quick and easy retrieval of information.

Living up to the expectations of a University, in Summer 2007, the University moved to its new campus located in the North Reclamation Area with the Library situated on the second floor. The Library floor area is three times the size of the Library in the previous location.  With a seating capacity of about 1000, the Library is made more conducive to learning and research.  It has several new salient features like the Discussion Rooms, Chat Rooms where students can make or answer calls through their cellular phones, Conference Room which also serves as a Faculty Reading Area when there is no scheduled meeting or other activities, and a Laptop Charging Area.

In November 24, 2007, during its National Book Week celebration, the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) was launched. Using the Follett Library Integrated Software, the Library has come up with its computerized version of the card catalog which is commonly called OPAC.  The provision of the OPAC gives easy and quick access to the materials in the Library. 

In Summer 2008, the Automated Library Circulation was also launched.  With this development, Library Cards are no longer needed.  Students only need to present their validated school IDs in borrowing any library material.  A transaction receipt which replaces the date due slip is issued to a borrower.  This receipt will guide the borrower as to when to return the borrowed materials. 

In February 2016, the Library upgraded its automation software to Follett Destiny Library Manager – Version 13.0. One of the best features this version offers is allowing our patrons to do online renewal. This is very beneficial especially to our Graduate School students. Patrons can also place reserve request for themselves through catalog by using one of the library search options to locate the title and clicking “Hold it” on title details. These are just some of the features that are advantageous for our patrons.

July 6, 2019 marked another milestone in the Library with the blessing and formal opening of the newly renovated library.

The renovation is purposely designed to meet the diverse needs of the academic community especially the millennials who prefer a more relaxed learning environment. 

Offering various spaces for individual and group study, a space for research, collaboration and exploration, space for Quiet Study and a Chill-Out Corner, the Library now attracts much more students making the Library a very dynamic and vibrant place.

The discussion on converting the traditional library into a Learning Common started with the late President Dr. Potenciano V. Larrazabal Jr. who readily showed his support to the project.

Completion was done during the term of the 2^nd University President, Dr. Philip Anthony S. D. Larrazabal who also showed the same support to the project.  Hence, the library now has more seating capacity and is always full of students.

In March 2020, physical classes were suspended because of the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic, hence all students and employees were not allowed to come to school.  This led to a work-from-scheme to continue delivering service without necessarily reporting to school.  This resulted in the review of existing Library services and redesign them to online services with the use of social media in disseminating these new services to all students and faculty.  These online services include online reservation and online renewal of library materials.  Online reference service is also made available as well as online orientation of students on how to create their OPAC account and in answering other queries from students and faculty through an official Library Facebook webpage Cebu Doctors’ University-Learning Resource Center.  Access to the Library’s online resources is also made available and webinars relating to the use of the Library’s online resources were also conducted.

Sometime in July 2020, the staff were already allowed to report back to work and are required to strictly observe the Standard Health Protocol by properly wearing face mask, and face shield as well as regularly sanitize work areas through the use of alcohol and other sanitizing agents.  Ultraviolet sanitation devices were also installed inside the Library to augment safety precautions.  Acrylic dividers were also installed on the different working areas in the Library.

Align with the institution’s desire to offer limited face-to-face classes, the Library conducted a restructuring of its facilities ensuring that the required physical distancing of at least 1.5 meters per reader is observed.  Other preventive measures are also made available like issuing priority seat numbers to students so that all those who are getting inside the Library are assured of a study space.

Reminders on the Library New Normal Services Guidelines are posted in the Library Electronic Board and in the other conspicuous areas within the Library premises.  Most importantly, books are now on closed shelves and OPAC access is made available through QR codes that students can easily scan in their respective gadgets.

With all these preparations, the Library is now ready to accept students and faculty.

With the retirement of Mrs. Emeline C. Baco, in December 2021, Ms. Maria Christine Love I. Bariquit became the OIC Head of the Library Services from January to June 2022. Mrs. Baco had served as the Head of the Library Services for 22 years. Under her leadership and management, the Library had greatly improved. 

In July 2022, Mr. John Miguel C. Jabines became the new OIC Head of the Library Services.