'British Library' struggles to lure members

'British Library' struggles to lure members

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As technology advances, libraries are becoming much more than
just conventional places to browse books.

Rather than reading, about a dozen people at the government-
run Perpus Diknas library on Friday afternoon spent more time
watching a cartoon movie.

Almost a year after its relocation, the ex-British Council
library currently run by the Ministry of National Education is
still struggling to reestablish itself.

"We hold movie screenings every two weeks on Friday," said the
library's research and development officer, Chaidir Amir, adding
that traditionally, people were more interested in audio-visual
materials than books.

The large screen at the center of the library, two study areas
and the compact bookstore cafe create a modern-looking, yet
spacious ground floor facility at the Ministry of Education
office in Sudirman, South Jakarta.

Previously, the British Council library, Perpus Diknas with
some 16,000 books and 5,000 videos, cassette tapes, CDs and DVDs,
now has only 3,000 members, down from 5,000 members before the
relocation and ownership change. Librarian Asriansyah said
around 10 to 20 people used the facility each day.

"The number of the collections, especially the books, is also
decreasing. We initially had 18,000 books but some of them had to
be removed because of their condition," she said.

Since moving from the S. Widjojo building in November 2004,
the library has tried to change emphasis to become more of a
learning facility.

"We have a complete collection of teaching English books as
well as a very varied collection of books on literary and social
sciences topics," Chaidir said.

"We host study club events every Saturday in the discussion
rooms," he said.

"And we plan more book fairs next year."

The activities the library hosts range from book launches and
discussions, independent film making seminars and an English
conversation club to Japanese origami lessons.

Amir said the library's recent book fair of discounted English
and Indonesian titles had a good response.

"This building is more open to the public compared to the
tightly guarded S. Widjojo building."

British Council director Mike Hardy said the library
relocated after the Australian Embassy bombing in Kuningan, South
Jakarta, when it was decided facility needed a more secure
location.

"After reviewing several options, we thought that the
ministry's office would be perfect," Hardy said.

Although it has donated its entire collection to the ministry,
the council, which had operated the library for more than 50
years, has not stopped providing for it.

"We receive yearly funding to add our collections," Amir said.

Employees were also developing an e-library and road shows to
cities throughout the archipelago.