Book donations help rebuild East Timor's uni library

The National University of East Timor's new library - a restored polytechnic gymnasium - will be the new home for books donated by Monash University Library.

East Timor's national university library, destroyed in 1999, is again fully functional, and stocked largely with donations from Australia and Portugal, including several hundred books from Monash University Library.

"We have a large collection of books in Bahasa Indonesian, and this included many duplicate copies that we didn't need, but will hopefully prove useful to the students in Dili," said Monash University Library Collection Manager, Robert Stafford.

Of the thousands of books offered by the Monash University Library, appeal co-ordinators, the 'Friends of the Universidade Nasional Timor Lorosae' (UNTL), selected several hundred Bahasa Indonesian language books.

Books were selected, with the assistance of the language skills of Monash University Senior Asian Studies Librarian, Dr Aline Scott-Maxwell, to cover the East Timor university's six faculty areas of agriculture, education, political science, economics and engineering.

Mr French said the Monash donations were all the more appreciated because Monash's was the first academic library to offer Bahasa Indonesia language materials.

"Bahasa Indonesian is the instructional language of the University of Dili, meaning these books are much in demand," said Mr French.

The UNTL library, looted and burnt during political upheaval, has been completely rebuilt and is now able to provide materials for the 6000 students of the National University of East Timor.

"The computer-based library system still needs work, the unreliable power supply in Dili continues to be a problem and the new library roof leaks, but in time these challenges will also be tackled and solved," said Mr French.

Mr French will return to the Matheson Library, Clayton campus in mid-April to collect several more boxes of donated English language materials covering Asian history and politics.

Mr French said the main priorities now for the library were implementing computer-based library systems and accompanying staff training.

"There are opportunities for information technology volunteers to apply for a placement to work on the project at the library," said Mr French.

To make a donation or become involved in the project, visit http://www.untl.labor.net.au/ or contact Lyle French, Secretary, Friends of the UNTL Library, Victorian Group, Inc, by email: lylefwor@bigpond.com.au or phone: 0409 549 224 or for more information visit the website for Union Aid Abroad APHEDA: www.apheda.org.au

21 March 2003

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