National Library warns publishers

JAKARTA (JP): The National Library promised Saturday to get tough with publishers and recording companies that failed to submit copies of their products as required by law.

The library promised to reward those who complied with the regulations and take punitive action against companies which failed to abide by the them.

Ediyami Bondan Andoko, head of the National Library's Department for Preservation and Deposits, said few publishers and recording companies abide by Law No. 4/1990 on publications and audio and visual recordings.

The law requires that book publishers and recording companies submit at least two copies of each work they issue: One copy to the National Library and another to local libraries run by the provincial administration.

Publishers or recording companies which do not comply with the law are liable to a maximum six months imprisonment and/or a Rp 5 million (US$2,127) fine.

The law covers fiction and non-fiction books, reference books, art books, scientific books, magazines, newspapers, maps, brochures and any other publications the National Library decides are intended for public consumption.

Recordings include films, audio cassettes, video cassettes, laser discs, diskettes and other recording materials intended for public consumption. Importers who bring in more than 10 copies of books and recorded materials about Indonesia are also subject to the law.

Ediyami said initially, the reward, which is in the form of a letter of appreciation, will be provided to publishers and recording companies in the Jakarta area only.

Currently, the National Library is still selecting publishers and recording companies which deserve the reward. The library is also considering to give rewards to publishers or recording companies outside the Jakarta area.

"The first rewards will be given between this December and January next year," Ediyami told The Jakarta Post.

To enforce the law, the National Library will form a special team which includes the police.

She admitted that many efforts have been undertaken to make the publishers and recording companies comply with the law, including giving them five years to prepare themselves and initiating information campaigns.

However, many publishers and recording companies have ignored their obligation. Some said they were not aware of the law and others outside of Java have technical problems to send the copies.

"We will warn the recalcitrant publishers and recording companies up to three times. If they still ignore the law, we will submit their names to the special team for investigation," Ediyami said.

Rozali Usman, chairman of the Association of Indonesian Book Publishers (IKAPI), welcomed the plan to give rewards to publishers who comply with the regulation.

He said it was mostly government-owned companies that failed to comply with the law.

The National Library has received 8,299 titles of books from 102 IKAPI members in 1996.

Since the law was passed in 1990, the National Library has only received about 33,000 books and magazines and about 10,000 recordings from music producers. (ste)