'British Library' struggles to lure members<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
As technology advances, libraries are becoming much more than
\njust conventional places to browse books.<\/p>\n
Rather than reading, about a dozen people at the government-
\nrun Perpus Diknas library on Friday afternoon spent more time
\nwatching a cartoon movie.<\/p>\n
Almost a year after its relocation, the ex-British Council
\nlibrary currently run by the Ministry of National Education is
\nstill struggling to reestablish itself.<\/p>\n
\"We hold movie screenings every two weeks on Friday,\" said the
\nlibrary's research and development officer, Chaidir Amir, adding
\nthat traditionally, people were more interested in audio-visual
\nmaterials than books.<\/p>\n
The large screen at the center of the library, two study areas
\nand the compact bookstore cafe create a modern-looking, yet
\nspacious ground floor facility at the Ministry of Education
\noffice in Sudirman, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Previously, the British Council library, Perpus Diknas with
\nsome 16,000 books and 5,000 videos, cassette tapes, CDs and DVDs,
\nnow has only 3,000 members, down from 5,000 members before the
\nrelocation and ownership change. Librarian Asriansyah said
\naround 10 to 20 people used the facility each day.<\/p>\n
\"The number of the collections, especially the books, is also
\ndecreasing. We initially had 18,000 books but some of them had to
\nbe removed because of their condition,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Since moving from the S. Widjojo building in November 2004,
\nthe library has tried to change emphasis to become more of a
\nlearning facility.<\/p>\n
\"We have a complete collection of teaching English books as
\nwell as a very varied collection of books on literary and social
\nsciences topics,\" Chaidir said.<\/p>\n
\"We host study club events every Saturday in the discussion
\nrooms,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"And we plan more book fairs next year.\"<\/p>\n
The activities the library hosts range from book launches and
\ndiscussions, independent film making seminars and an English
\nconversation club to Japanese origami lessons.<\/p>\n
Amir said the library's recent book fair of discounted English
\nand Indonesian titles had a good response.<\/p>\n
\"This building is more open to the public compared to the
\ntightly guarded S. Widjojo building.\"<\/p>\n
British Council director Mike Hardy said the library
\nrelocated after the Australian Embassy bombing in Kuningan, South
\nJakarta, when it was decided facility needed a more secure
\nlocation.<\/p>\n
\"After reviewing several options, we thought that the
\nministry's office would be perfect,\" Hardy said.<\/p>\n
Although it has donated its entire collection to the ministry,
\nthe council, which had operated the library for more than 50
\nyears, has not stopped providing for it.<\/p>\n
\"We receive yearly funding to add our collections,\" Amir said.<\/p>\n
Employees were also developing an e-library and road shows to
\ncities throughout the archipelago.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/british-library-struggles-to-lure-members-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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