75 percent of libraries in cities

75 percent of libraries in cities

JAKARTA: Up to 75 percent of libraries are located in urban
areas, illustrating the widening education gulf between urban and
rural areas, National Library development chairman Idris Kamah
said here last week.

To narrow the education divide, the National Library proposes
that the government develop more libraries in villages.

The National Library is drafting a national library system to
account for the legal basis for the development of national
libraries.

Meanwhile, National Library chairman Dady Rachmananta proposed
that the government develop a curriculum that stimulates
students' reading habits.

He said that, starting in junior high school, students should
regularly be assigned to write a basic synopsis of books they
read.

The National Library has been holding a seminar on ways to
develop reading habits from Oct. 23 to Oct. 25. at Bogor Palace,
West Java. -- JP

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ANPAa..r..
Ambassador-post
U.S. ambassador post to be filled
JP/8/SCENE

Vacant U.S. ambassadorship to be filled

JAKARTA: Indonesia is in the process of appointing a new
ambassador to the United States to fill the ambassadorship left
vacant for the last two months, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hassan Wirayuda said on Tuesday.

"We are processing the ambassador's appointment," Hassan said,
adding that the process was expected to be completed next month.

"We are going to have a new ambassador before the vacancy
reaches the three-month point," he said.

The ambassadorship in Washington was left vacant after the
appointment of former ambassador Dorojatun Kuntjoro-jakti as
coordinating minister for the economy in President Megawati
Soekarnoputri's Cabinet in August.

Several names have been mentioned as possible candidates,
including economist Srie Edi Swasono and current Indonesian
Ambassador to Japan Sumadi Brotodiningrat.

When asked about these candidacies, Hassan said: "I am not
denying or confirming them." -- JP

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Denpasar-Hindu-institute
Integrated Hinduism campus
JP/8/SCENE

Integrated Hindu campus

DENPASAR: The government will provide assistance worth Rp 5
billion (US$500,000) for the establishment of a new integrated
campus for the Institute of Hindu Studies (STAHN), Denpasar, in
Bangli Regency, Bali, an official said on Tuesday.

The director of STAHN Denpasar, I Made Titib, said that the
new campus would be built on a 12.5-hectare site and represented
an extension to the existing campus in Denpasar.

The government's willingness to provide assistance was
announced at a meeting between Titib and the Director General of
Hindu and Buddhist Affairs, Wayan Suarjaya, and the Minister of
Religious Affairs, Said Agil Munawar, in Jakarta on Monday.

Titib said that the assistance was badly needed to help speed
up the establishment of the new integrated campus, which was
projected to cost about Rp 46 billion.

Bali Governor Dewa Beratha has reportedly allocated funds of
Rp 4 billion for the development of one teaching-learning unit in
Denpasar, while the Bangli administration has allocated another
Rp 300 million for the first phase.

Titib said that the integrated campus was expected to become a
Hindu development center which would also contribute to the
development of arts and culture, as well as religion development.
-- Antara