THE BEGINNING

February 24-25, 1972 - The seed of a library cooperative was tentatively blown in a brainstorming session of 13 head librarians of accredited and soon-to-be accredited colleges and universities who attended the first PAASCU-sponsored academic librarians’ conference for Visayas and Mindanao held in Cagayan de Oro City.  The librarians agreed to look into the feasibility of a library cooperative and initiated a survey among the libraries concerned for the purpose of drawing up a “profile of needs” that would bring out common problems that the cooperative should seek to solve.

September 14-15, 1972 - This is the second PAASCU academic librarians’ conference, again located in Cagayan de Oro City, the outline for the cooperative venture was drawn up and was named Academic Libraries Book Acquisition Services Cooperative, or ALBASC.  It was to be concerned with group purchasing of books here and abroad, with soliciting book donations, and with other library activities that could be engaged in by the group to minimize expenses and maximize the results.

March 1-2, 1973 - The first ALBASC conference was held in Cebu City where the working draft of the constitution was drawn.  Three months later, a second ALBASC conference was called at which a progress report on the effort to register the cooperative was given.

July 16, 1973 - ALBASC started its operations with a part-time manager, temporarily based in Manila, while following up the application to obtain legal status.  Because of the complications of registering it as a cooperative, it was decided to register it as non-stock, non-profit association in order to facilitate its registration and hasten the release of grant pledged by the Asia foundation to cover operational expenses.  While waiting for the approval of the application, the manager selected books from the Asia Foundation’s Book Program arranged a temporary office and storage room at the University of San Carlos.

November 20, 1973 - This is the approval of the ALBASA, Inc.  This paved the way for the processing and release of Asia Foundation’s grant of P8,647.00 for operational expenses for one year.  As a registered legal body, ALBASA found it easier to purchase books on account and soon invited other institutions to join.

The first ALBASA’s manager was Ms. Eva Brillo, the then director of Xavier University Library.  When Mr. Diosdado David was appointed as Business Manager stationed in Cebu, Miss Brillo’s designation was changed to Executive Secretary, commuting between Cebu and Cagayan de Oro City.