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.