I. Poverty: the best library? -- Library of congress -- the best business school -- do books cause revolution? -- II. The great debate -- Phonics-first v look-say -- Lecture v reading: the big question -- Computer and eLearning -- III. Royal and imperial libraries -- Myth of memory -- outline of history -- Universal library -- IV Public libraries in the world -- National and public libraries -- According to UNESCO -- US public libraries -- Soviet libraries -- Library economics -- V. Books of nations -- Evolution of books -- French book industry -- Global book market -- Book publications -- Newspapers and periodicals -- Biblioeconomy of the world -- Futures of books -- VI. Philippine Public libraries -- before Magellan -- In the days of Jose Rizal -- American colonial period -- After World War II -- Philippine centennial and after -- Political economy of LGU libraries -- It's the public library, stupid! -- VII Requiem: Biblioteca de Filipinas -- Epilogue: Washington DC to New Manaoag --