US$5m for regional library improvement<\/p>\n
Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Good news for book-loving students and community members in
\nthe regions: The government, in cooperation with the World Bank,
\nwill launch a US$5 million project to improve school and
\ncommunity libraries in three provinces starting next year.<\/p>\n
The program, which will be co-ordinated by the National
\nLibrary (Perpusnas), will open greater opportunities for the
\nactive participation of locals.<\/p>\n
\"There are many community and school libraries in the regions
\nthat cannot develop due to financial limitations. We will provide
\nthem with funds so that they can design programs to improve their
\nlibraries,\" Woro Titi, the project manager told The Jakarta Post
\non Monday on the sidelines of the 11th Working Meeting of the
\nIndonesian Library Association (IPI) at the Perpusnas.<\/p>\n
Funded by the World Bank, the project will be launched in
\nvarious parts of South Sumatra, West Nusa Tenggara, and Central
\nJava provinces and operate between 2002 and 2004. It involves
\nsome 550 community libraries and 220 elementary school libraries.<\/p>\n
The World Bank has provided US$5 million to finance the
\nproject.<\/p>\n
According to Woro, the project was also aimed at encouraging
\nwider public participation and raising local administrations'
\nawareness of the importance of libraries.<\/p>\n
Each community library will receive initial funds of Rp 6
\nmillion per semester and subsequent funds of Rp 4 million per
\nsemester. Elementary libraries will each receive an initial Rp 5
\nmillion per semester and Rp 3.5 million per subsequent semester.<\/p>\n
The funds, Woro said, would be sent directly to each library
\nthrough banks or post offices, to make sure that the funds were
\nactually received by the intended recipients.<\/p>\n
Under the project, the participating libraries are free to
\ndesign their own programs, which could include buying books,
\nrenovating their facilities or financing new activities such as
\ncampaigns to improve public reading habits and fund raisers.<\/p>\n
The project also includes training for librarians to help them
\nrun their libraries properly and professionally.<\/p>\n
A management team will be set up in each library. The team
\nwill involve members of the public, such as parents at school
\nlibraries and community leaders at community libraries.<\/p>\n
\"Naturally, we want the public to play an active role. It will
\nteach them to manage their library independently and not to
\ndepend on the government,\" Woro remarked.<\/p>\n
The presence of community members in the library management
\nteams will also act as a control mechanism to ensure the funds
\nare not misused. However, Perpusnas, the World Bank and the
\nDevelopment and Finance Comptroller (BPKP) will still monitor the
\nproject closely.<\/p>\n
The project also requires local administrations to provide
\nsupport, ranging from funds to facilities.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, even after the project has finished, the libraries
\nwill continue to operate with the support of the public and the
\nlocal administrations.\"<\/p>\n
\"The project is worth the effort. We want the public and the
\nlocal administrations to see that libraries are important and
\nshould be appreciated,\" Woro said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us5m-for-regional-library-improvement-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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