Grand plan for library a step ahead of times<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): After thinking deeply, Hernandono, the head of
\nthe National Library -- home to a lofty number of historical
\ndocuments -- finally realized that his dream of developing the
\ninstitution into a world-class library might be too ambitious.<\/p>\n
According to him, his vision is heavily blocked by a lack of
\nbudget and professionalism of most of the 650 staff at the
\nlibrary, which houses some 1.2 million items in its collection,
\nincluding some 10,000 old books, maps, calendars, invitation
\ncards and a variety of precious old manuscripts of different
\ncultures written in various media, such as tree barks, leaves and
\nbamboo.<\/p>\n
\"I know that the present condition is far from perfect but I
\nbelieve that people should always have high hopes in their
\nlives,\" he told The Jakarta Post in an interview late last week.<\/p>\n
Hernandono disclosed his ambitious plan to reporters during a
\nnews conference two days earlier, held in conjunction with the
\nlibrary's 20th anniversary on May 17.<\/p>\n
All visitors, particularly regulars, must agree with him about
\nthe poor skills of most of the staff which, in return, lead to
\nthe improper treatment and system of handling the giant
\ncollection.<\/p>\n
\"It's far from ready to support my dream,\" Hernandono said.<\/p>\n
The library has become the most popular place for students,
\nresearchers, professors and many other professionals seeking
\nvaluable references for their studies.<\/p>\n
Hernandono said the small budget allocated for the library
\nmade it difficult for them to give optimal standard treatment to
\nthe old manuscripts.<\/p>\n
This year, for example, the government allocated a maximum of
\nRp 700 million (US$84,340) for restoration work at the library.<\/p>\n
\"It's really inadequate for such work,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The amount was taken from the total of Rp 20 billion allocated
\nfrom the state budget to the library for the year.<\/p>\n
\"The first Rp 15 billion is used for operational affairs, and
\nthe remaining Rp 5 billion for salaries,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The Rp 15 billion is used for, among other things, he added,
\nthe expensive maintenance of the library's seven-story main
\noffice and old two-story administrative office building, both
\nlocated at the same compound on Jl. Salemba Raya in Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Due to the shortage of funds, the library still has no rooms
\nwith a set temperature and humidity level required to properly
\nmaintain the collection, Hernandono explained.<\/p>\n
The rare manuscripts, such as lontar (manuscripts on leaves)
\nfrom South Sulawesi and the bamboo calendars from East
\nKalimantan, are simply kept in air-conditioned rooms, which have
\nno instruments to regulate the temperature and humidity.<\/p>\n
Consequently, many of the manuscripts are damaged.<\/p>\n
Dutch restorer PM Poldervaart who visited the library last
\nmonth, disclosed that about 75 percent of the old books and
\nmanuscripts in the library are in a bad condition.<\/p>\n
According to the expert, the rare collection should be in
\nrooms which have a constant temperature of 18 degrees Celsius and
\n50 percent humidity.<\/p>\n
During a visit on Friday, The Jakarta Post learned that a room
\ncontaining old manuscripts was 30 degrees Celsius and had 73
\npercent humidity.<\/p>\n
An old map of Jakarta, dating back to the 17th century, was
\ntorn, while several old handwritten books were acidified,
\ncrumbling or had fallen apart, making it impossible to read the
\ncontents.<\/p>\n
Worse still, most of the librarians, apparently, have no
\nproper knowledge about how to handle such ancient manuscripts.
\nThey treat the valuable documents like ordinary books at their
\nhomes.<\/p>\n
When photocopying, for example, they handled the books
\nroughly.<\/p>\n
\"I don't close my eyes to the fact. I think only a quarter of
\nour 650 employees are qualified, and I believe that it is the
\nreflection of the attitude of civil servants nationwide,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He added that most of the library's employees were like clerks
\nwith poor salaries and that they did not treat the collection
\nproperly.<\/p>\n
None of the state heritage was insured, Hernandono said.<\/p>\n
He said was also aware of the attitude of some of his staff,
\nwho lend books to outsiders for their own business interests.<\/p>\n
\"I can't change an attitude myself; it should be a nationwide
\nmovement.<\/p>\n
\"We stock check annually and always find that about 2 percent
\nof our collection has gone missing (due to the illegal acts of
\nhis staff),\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the collection of old books and manuscripts at the
\nlibrary was more complete compared to those found at any other
\nnational libraries in neighboring countries and in countries
\nwhich historically had a link with Indonesia, such as Germany,
\nthe Netherlands and Australia.<\/p>\n
\"Sometimes there are manuscripts relating to their countries
\nwhich cannot be found there. That's why the library has the
\npotential to be a world-class library,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The library was established on May 17, 1980, as an integration
\nof four big libraries in Jakarta, namely the National Museum's
\nLibrary, the Library of History, Politics and Social Sciences,
\nthe Bibliography and Deposit Division, the Center for Library
\nDevelopment and the Jakarta Regional Library.<\/p>\n
The library is under the Ministry of National Education. (ind)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/grand-plan-for-library-a-step-ahead-of-times-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }