Jayakarta Archive Building's service

From Neraca

Hoping to obtain some data and literature about the situation in the capital city the olden days, I visited the Jayakarta archive building on the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) complex last week. But to my disappointment, I failed to obtain the data because of the institution's deplorably poor service.

It is ironic that even though the institution is housed in such a huge mansion with impressive architecture, it is being managed by people who do not even understand their jobs, not to mention professionalism.

For example, the archive collection department's manager did not even look at me when answering my question. While cleaning his cigarette match and gazing around, he simply said that the information catalogs were still being worked out by his staff. Worse still, he said that the public cannot have access to the archives until they are 50 years old.

The library door was even locked and he said without showing any remorse that he did not have any idea where the key was.

RUDY SIMANUNGKALIT

Jakarta