QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES (newworlds.ph) -- Have you ever tried following one of those long-running fantasy book series like Robert Jordan's "The Wheel of Time" or the Dragonlance series?  Or have you ever tried reading all the "Star Trek" novels in order but couldn't find the next volume?  Tried to keep up with the Star Wars Expanded universe novels?

You've probably tried.  But as the venerable Master Yoda would say, "Do or do not, there is no try."

"But Master Yoda," you protest. "I can only try because it's too difficult to find all the books in these series.  It's rare to find all 10 Wheel of Time books available in a store, or to find someone with a great number of Star Trek books I can borrow!"

Master Yoda looks at you with a knowing smile and whispers, "Ah, but the New Worlds Library, there is.  Know about it, do you not?"

I can see you're quite bewildered.  And before Master Yoda decides you have to do a single handstand while he's standing on your foot and you try to levitate some rocks using the Force because you don't know what the New Worlds Library is, let me elucidate.

The New Worlds Library (NWL) is a project of the New Worlds Alliance (NWA), a network of local fan organizations of science fiction, fantasy, and horror enthusiasts.  Located at Fandom Café, the Alliance headquarters in Quezon City, it is the first online lending library of its kind and scope in the country.  The aim of the NWL is to provide a wide selection of science fiction, fantasy, and horror books and references, and various magazines and similar publications that its members can either read on-site or borrow.

To date, the NWL has more than 1600 books in its collection, most of which were donated by NWA member groups and other individuals.  There are substantial collections of Star Trek, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, Star Wars, and various classic science fiction and fantasy books, some of which, you won't find available in local stores, or are already out of print.  So if you've ever wanted to finish that long book series but couldn't find the other volumes, try searching the NWL database, and you just might find what you're looking for.  We can't count how many times visitors to the library have said "I've been looking for this book for the longest time!" while browsing the NWL collection.

The NWL catalogue is available online to provide members easy access to information they need before going to Fandom Café. Members may browse the catalogue at their leisure using their workstations, check if the book is available for loan, reserve it online, and go to Fandom Café to pick up the book.  If the book they want was checked-out by another member, members can reserve the book and they will be notified by e-mail if the book is already available.  Right now, library volunteers are still busy migrating book information into our new database system, but a more comprehensive list of books may be found in the NWL Librarything account.

Applying for membership to the NWL is easy.  Secure a Membership Form from Fandom Café or request for one through the NWL website, fill it up, present the required documents, and pay the membership fee.  After validation of the information in your application, you can start browsing for books you can borrow.

So now that you know what the New Worlds Library is, hurry and apply for membership now!  Master Yoda is watching you, and so am I... especially if you do not take care of those books.

The New Worlds Library is open for business and is located at:
Fandom Café
Unit G-09 Regalia Park Towers,
150 P. Tuazon St., Cubao, Quezon City

For more information, visit our websites:
http://www.fandomcafe.com
http://www.newworlds.ph
or the NWL catalog database at:
http://www.newworlds.ph/elib/login.php
our Librarything account is at:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/nwa_library
You can also call: (02)4396586
or e-mail: library@fandomcafe.com

The New Worlds Library was featured on QTV's "Sa Pulso" program.  View the footage here. (For some reason I can't get the video to appear on this entry!)

I called Ricky last Tuesday afternoon at his office just to say hi, and the girl who answered said that he'd been brought to Medical City. I got worried and called his cellphone. Reitch answered and told me he was in the ICU. And on April 18, we said goodbye forever.

It's Thursday now, and I'm still struggling with the fact that I'll never hear him say "Halloooo" or call me "Pretty girl" again.

Ricky was practically family. I live alone here in Manila, and he was always there when I needed to talk to someone. I remember being unable to sleep over a problem and I called him at 4am and even if he was groggy, he didn't get mad at me. Every time there was a long weekend, he'd text to ask me if I had plans and invite me to join him and Reitch.

He was Broadwall, our pillar of strength: logistics and security chief at Conventions, consultant on protocol, Ringbearer and Bane to Ian's bane. And yet he was Papa Ball too, always ready with a quote from Monty Python, the one who endlessly teased me about my lovelife, and that big booming ha-ha-ha-ha laugh.

I cried hard last night at Brash Young Cinema. That's where we first met, at a VA meeting. See the "Don't Get Wimpy Mascots, Get the Stormballs" sign on the wall? He dictated that to me and I wrote the sign. He used to walk me home from Brash.

Everytime I was down and depressed he’d tease me “Be English, my dear! Stiff upper lip!”

Well, sorry Ricky, but this time I don’t think I can! Who am I going to bug when I want to eat pasta and gelato at Amici? Who’s going to keep the Secretariat calm during Conventions? Who’s going to be Chief Volunteer next time Neil Gaiman comes to Manila? Who's going to bug me to get a boyfriend?

I miss you terribly, Ricky.
Thank you for being one of the best friends I ever had.