Public lacks appreciation of libraries, officials say<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Librarians are lamenting the lack of
\nappreciation for libraries amid all the hubbub about
\nglobalization.<\/p>\n
Libraries will play an increasingly important role in the
\nglobalization era as a provider of information and \"he who has
\ninformation will win\", Hernandono, head of the National Library,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"Only about 1 percent of the total population of 210 million
\nvisit libraries daily,\" he told a news conference held to
\ncommemorate the library's 20th anniversary on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Currently between 600 to 700 people visit the National Library
\nin Central Jakarta every day.<\/p>\n
Another library official, Rachmat Natadjumena, said the World
\nBank was willing to lend US$5 million to fund the development of
\n385 libraries in 11 regencies in Central Java, South Sumatra and
\nWest Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
The fund will be used to, among other things, add to the
\nlibraries' collections. In each regency 35 libraries will be
\nassisted, including 25 elementary school libraries.<\/p>\n
Rachmat said research by the bank shows that the three
\nprovinces are the most ready for the project, meaning that people
\nthere will be able to continue the projects on their own once the
\nfunding stopped.<\/p>\n
Since 1980, the National Library has set up provincial
\nnational libraries in 25 provinces, an official said.<\/p>\n
\"Ordinary people are steeped in drama, storytelling, music and
\ncrafts -- not literature,\" Paul Permadi, the library's officer in
\ncharge of collection development and information services, said.<\/p>\n
A librarian in Jakarta said despite Internet services people
\nwould still need conventional library services. \"Many people
\nstill don't understand English, which is needed in surfing the
\nweb,\" Lies said.<\/p>\n
Education expert Mochtar Buchori told The Jakarta Post that
\nthe culture to seek knowledge orally is still more popular.<\/p>\n
\"That's why the culture of gossip blooms here,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Hernandono said the Rp 11 billion allocated from the 2000
\nstate budget for the operation of the library made it impossible
\nto provide adequate maintenance for its collection of 1.2 million
\nprinted works.<\/p>\n
Dutch expert P.M. Poldervaart, who visited the library
\nrecently, said about 75 percent of some 10,000 old books and
\nmanuscripts there needed immediate restoration due to their bad
\ncondition.<\/p>\n
Rachmat said none of the old collections had been insured.
\n(08)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/public-lacks-appreciation-of-libraries-officials-say-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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