US$5m for regional library improvement
US$5m for regional library improvement
Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Good news for book-loving students and community members in
the regions: The government, in cooperation with the World Bank,
will launch a US$5 million project to improve school and
community libraries in three provinces starting next year.
The program, which will be co-ordinated by the National
Library (Perpusnas), will open greater opportunities for the
active participation of locals.
"There are many community and school libraries in the regions
that cannot develop due to financial limitations. We will provide
them with funds so that they can design programs to improve their
libraries," Woro Titi, the project manager told The Jakarta Post
on Monday on the sidelines of the 11th Working Meeting of the
Indonesian Library Association (IPI) at the Perpusnas.
Funded by the World Bank, the project will be launched in
various parts of South Sumatra, West Nusa Tenggara, and Central
Java provinces and operate between 2002 and 2004. It involves
some 550 community libraries and 220 elementary school libraries.
The World Bank has provided US$5 million to finance the
project.
According to Woro, the project was also aimed at encouraging
wider public participation and raising local administrations'
awareness of the importance of libraries.
Each community library will receive initial funds of Rp 6
million per semester and subsequent funds of Rp 4 million per
semester. Elementary libraries will each receive an initial Rp 5
million per semester and Rp 3.5 million per subsequent semester.
The funds, Woro said, would be sent directly to each library
through banks or post offices, to make sure that the funds were
actually received by the intended recipients.
Under the project, the participating libraries are free to
design their own programs, which could include buying books,
renovating their facilities or financing new activities such as
campaigns to improve public reading habits and fund raisers.
The project also includes training for librarians to help them
run their libraries properly and professionally.
A management team will be set up in each library. The team
will involve members of the public, such as parents at school
libraries and community leaders at community libraries.
"Naturally, we want the public to play an active role. It will
teach them to manage their library independently and not to
depend on the government," Woro remarked.
The presence of community members in the library management
teams will also act as a control mechanism to ensure the funds
are not misused. However, Perpusnas, the World Bank and the
Development and Finance Comptroller (BPKP) will still monitor the
project closely.
The project also requires local administrations to provide
support, ranging from funds to facilities.
"Therefore, even after the project has finished, the libraries
will continue to operate with the support of the public and the
local administrations."
"The project is worth the effort. We want the public and the
local administrations to see that libraries are important and
should be appreciated," Woro said.
Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Good news for book-loving students and community members in
the regions: The government, in cooperation with the World Bank,
will launch a US$5 million project to improve school and
community libraries in three provinces starting next year.
The program, which will be co-ordinated by the National
Library (Perpusnas), will open greater opportunities for the
active participation of locals.
"There are many community and school libraries in the regions
that cannot develop due to financial limitations. We will provide
them with funds so that they can design programs to improve their
libraries," Woro Titi, the project manager told The Jakarta Post
on Monday on the sidelines of the 11th Working Meeting of the
Indonesian Library Association (IPI) at the Perpusnas.
Funded by the World Bank, the project will be launched in
various parts of South Sumatra, West Nusa Tenggara, and Central
Java provinces and operate between 2002 and 2004. It involves
some 550 community libraries and 220 elementary school libraries.
The World Bank has provided US$5 million to finance the
project.
According to Woro, the project was also aimed at encouraging
wider public participation and raising local administrations'
awareness of the importance of libraries.
Each community library will receive initial funds of Rp 6
million per semester and subsequent funds of Rp 4 million per
semester. Elementary libraries will each receive an initial Rp 5
million per semester and Rp 3.5 million per subsequent semester.
The funds, Woro said, would be sent directly to each library
through banks or post offices, to make sure that the funds were
actually received by the intended recipients.
Under the project, the participating libraries are free to
design their own programs, which could include buying books,
renovating their facilities or financing new activities such as
campaigns to improve public reading habits and fund raisers.
The project also includes training for librarians to help them
run their libraries properly and professionally.
A management team will be set up in each library. The team
will involve members of the public, such as parents at school
libraries and community leaders at community libraries.
"Naturally, we want the public to play an active role. It will
teach them to manage their library independently and not to
depend on the government," Woro remarked.
The presence of community members in the library management
teams will also act as a control mechanism to ensure the funds
are not misused. However, Perpusnas, the World Bank and the
Development and Finance Comptroller (BPKP) will still monitor the
project closely.
The project also requires local administrations to provide
support, ranging from funds to facilities.
"Therefore, even after the project has finished, the libraries
will continue to operate with the support of the public and the
local administrations."
"The project is worth the effort. We want the public and the
local administrations to see that libraries are important and
should be appreciated," Woro said.