There is a new hotspot in Iriga City, the hometown of superstar Nora Aunor and the Philippines’ first bus company, Alatco.

Iriguenos, and even residents from neighboring Naga, are trooping to the very modern Iriga City Public Library. The façade of the two-story building features floor-to-ceiling glass windows and a brick pathway.

There are comfortable sofas and armchairs in the lounge and big narra tables and matching chairs in the reading/research area.

The library also has a section with 10 personal computers for Internet surfing. For those who prefer to bring their laptops, the entire lib has Wi-fi access.

On the second floor is a wall exhibit area with photos and profiles of famous Irigeueno luminaries like Nora Aunor, Budget Secretary Emilia Boncadin, the late public relations expert Bubby Dacer, and actor Jaime Fabregas , among others.

“What we had before was only a room with stacks of books. This was in the old city hall,” she relates.
The Iriga City Public Library is perhaps the only public and government-owned reading center in the country that has a coffee shop. This one’s called Pages and Coffee and is located on the first floor; it has an alfresco set-up of wooden chairs and tables underneath umbrellas, and an inner resto with the same comfy chairs and tables.

Like the library, Pages and Coffee is open every day from 8 am to 8 pm.

The library is also becoming a prime destination in the city, The mayor notes that guests, particularly those from Manila, are pleasantly surprised when they chance upon the library. Says she, "We hope we’re setting a trend or an example for other provincial cities to follow.”