Friends of the National Library in Papua New Guinea

Citation

(1998), "Friends of the National Library in Papua New Guinea", Asian Libraries, Vol. 7 No. 12. https://doi.org/10.1108/al.1998.17307lab.002

Friends of the National Library in Papua New Guinea

Friends of the National Library in Papua New Guinea

Information provided by Helen Hobs

Friends of the National Library in Papua New Guinea have been operating since 1985, as a volunteer association, to support the National Library Service. Literacy rates in Papua New Guinea are low in comparison with its neighbours. In the 1990 census, 45.1 per cent of the population reported themselves to be literate. There is concern that actual rates of functional literacy could be as low as 25 per cent. Attempts to improve this situation are complicated by over 800 distinct languages in the country, along with gross underfunding.

The National Library service does well, with dedicated staff, but with very few resources. Last year all their funding was taken up with operating expenses with no money left for books. Thankfully the World Bank, Rotary and other dedicated helpers ensure that some books get into the country. With the PNG Kina falling against major currencies, purchase of books will be increasingly difficult.

The Friends of the National Library last year spent 18,000 Kina (then around US$16,000) on new children's books for a Port Moresby public library which services a number of schools. We also bought new shelving for another public library and computer equipment for the National Library offices.

This year our major project is entitled Books for the Children of Papua New Guinea. Most of the 5,000 community primary schools in PNG have very few books and nowhere to store them. We are using folding, lockable bookcases on castors, made by a local technical college. They are stocked with books ­ non-fiction and fiction ­ which are specially selected for community primary schools. This book stock is ordered by the National Library Service and partly subsidised by the World Bank. We are asking service clubs and corporate organisations to sponsor a bookcase for a school and response has been encouraging.

National Book Week was held during the first week of August. Gary Crew, award-winning children's author, and Matthew Hayed of the Queensland cricket team joined the Friends for both the Book Fair and Book Week (thanks to sponsorship by the Australian High Commission and Coca Cola). We are particularly happy with the presence of celebrities, as they helped ensure attention from the national media.

Anyone interested in the work of the Friends should contact the Chairperson: Helen Hobs, Friends of the National Library. E-mail: ola@datec.comp.pg