National Library, a haven for researchers

National Library, a haven for researchers

By Tertiani Simanjuntak

JAKARTA (JP): Where do you keep history? In your head, in your
heart, or in the National Library?

The National Library building celebrates its 21st anniversary
today and though it may not be considered a historical site, it
is very much a part of Indonesian history, just like any other
landmark.

It's collection of 1.2 million documents that trace the
nation's journey from its pre-colonial era to the present day.

Often neglected by even the most prominent of researchers and
surviving only on limited state funds, the National Library has
quietly evolved into one of the finest references for anyone
wishing to study the country and its history.

All the ups and downs of Indonesia history have been safely
kept in this nine-story building situated on Jl. Salemba Raya 28A
in Central Jakarta since May 17, 1980. Today, the library is
often visited by foreign researchers.

It may surprise you that most of the approximately 1,000 daily
visitors to the library are university students looking for
references for their assignments or academic theses.

However, visitors are all older than high school students as
this library is not open for children. It is not even open to the
general public. Only a member can enjoy the facilities. To view
the necessary requirements click http://www.pnri.go.id.

Library head Hernandono said that the National Library's
functions were stipulated in Law No.4/1990, which is to gather
and preserve the nation's culture in the form of printing or
recording.

He admitted that the library owns a collection that includes
10,000 antique manuscripts with the oldest dating back in the
12th century.

Most of the old records have been transformed into microfilm.

He claimed that many Indonesians are still unaware of the
library's collection and that it may be useful for those who
additionally wish to seek information relating to the
Netherlands.

"A historian, Taufik Abdullah, who is also the head of the
Indonesian Institute of Science, was told that a document he had
been looking for in the Netherlands, could only be found here,"
he said.

Many documentary film producers are not aware either that they
are actually obliged to submit a copy of any of their works that
depict the country's culture or events.

"For example, the documentaries about Indonesian children made
by Garin Nugroho. The producer should have given us one of their
copies," Hernandono said.

However, almost 80 percent of publishers and scholars have
voluntarily submitted their works.

Hernandono, who has been in post for the last three years,
said that the library had received less than Rp 22 billion a year
from the government. It still needs more money to finance its
operations and to enhance its human resources, he said.

"This library is far from being ideal. There are still
documents we desperately need to obtain and we still lack the
technology to preserve the library's collection. The budget is
not enough. I had informed Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri
of this matter. We also need more air conditioners," he said.

Megawati visited the library on Monday to open a painting
exhibition marking the library's anniversary.

Hernandono also revealed that the library needed skilled
staffers who specialized in certain subjects so that they could
inform visitors.

"We don't want all of our 600 staffers to be mere librarians.
They have to have a formal education or some particular training.
The management, though, can no longer afford it because we only
have Rp 300 million for such types of programs this year, while
in the past we received three times that amount, Rp 1 billion per
year," he noted.