Interest in literature

Interest in literature

From Kompas

Sometime ago, I held a book and manuscripts of literature exhibition which ran for five days beginning on Jan. 25. The exhibition was held at the HB Jassin Library Complex at Taman Ismail Marzuki, Cikini Raya, Jakarta, and was sponsored by the same foundation.

The exhibit attracted 20 members of the public each day, mostly people interested in literature, students and journalists. Endo Senggono, a member of staff at the HB Jassin library, thinks the lack of interest in literary works could be worse, which backs Taufik Ismail's opinion that Indonesian's interest in literature is in a deplorable state, particularly among the young.

Visitors to the HB Jassin library only amount to about 20 a day, except when there is a special group tour.

At the opening of the exhibit on Jan. 25, it was disclosed that the documentation system in Indonesia leaves much to be desired. The secondhand book market abroad is, reportedly, in a much better state than the Indonesian national library.

I can attest to that. The library of a secondhand bookshop called Archives Book located in Brisbane, Australia has a complete collection of antique books right up to the latest publication. In comparison, secondhand bookshops in Indonesia only have backdated magazines and unmarketable first print textbooks.

As a collector of serious literature, I appeal to other collectors such as Ong Hok Ham, Goenawan Mohammad, Wiratmo Sukito, Murti Bunanta, Ninok Laksono, Nirwan Dewanto, Korrie Layun Rampan and others, to form a Book Collectors Forum. I would also like to address this plea to Suripan Sadi Hutomo and Sutanto Supiadhy in Surabaya.

Through this forum, a complete book documentation from the period of Wali Songo until today, might be established. I believe the documentation of books should begin now and should put the National Library in Salemba, Jakarta, in the shadow.

VIDDY AD

Jakarta