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