National Library warns publishers
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)