President to Officially Open Smart Park

Thursday, 11 December, 2008 | 18:11 WIB 

TEMPO Interactive, Yogyakarta:President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will officially open the Smart Park (Taman Pintar) in Yogyakarta on December 16. “The building construction is completed,” said Smart Park UPT chief, Ch Tri Maryatun, yesterday.The Smart Park’s management will close the area for three days on December 13 – 16 to prepare for the opening ceremony. 

After the official opening, entrance ticket fees will apply according to the Yogyakarta the municipal government. The Smart Park is a science-based playground which is visited by 2.000 people a day. During special events, as many as 8.000 people fill the park. Many activities are also held there, for instance local cultural performances.The park has a library, praying rooms, laboratory, convention hall, performance theater, and a book shop. 

MUH SYAIFULLAH

Indonesia, Australia national libraries to cooperate

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The National Library of Indonesia is to cooperate with the National Library of Australia by exchanging book collections, catalog notes and consultancy services, Indonesia`s chief librarian said.

"We have also cooperated in the same way with the national libraries of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States and Singapore," National Library of Indonesia head Dady P Rachmananta said after signing a memorandum of understanding on the cooperation here Tuesday.

He said, the national library was unable to collect all books published throughout the world , so it had to cooperate with the natinal libraries of other countries.

Dady said, the cooperation would benefit the National Library as it would thereby be able to collect various books published in Australia as well as in all regions in Indonesia.

Although Law No 4/1990 on printed and recorded publications required publishers to submit two copies of each book to the national library, the regulation was since the adoption of regional often violated, he said.

Under the cooperation with the National Library of Australia, the National Library of Indonesia would be enabled to collect books from all regions.

"The Australia library has the funds to travel to all regions in Indonesia and buy the books. Then, they would give one copy of each book they have bought to the National Library of Indonesia," Dady said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director General of the National Library of Australia, Amelia McKenzie, said both libraries had been cooperating closely since 2004.

At the time, the Australian library helped libraries in Aceh to re-collect their books and provide reading material to refugees from the tsunami that hit the province in late December 2004.

McKenzie said, the National Library of Australia had the largest collection of books in the Indonesian language as it was receiving some 4,000 Indonesian books every year.

Johan Budi Sava: Taking care of Bung Karno's books

Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Malang, East Java

"Where was Bung Karno born?" a bookshop attendant asked, referring to the country's founding father, Sukarno.

"Blitar, East Java," his customer confidently replied, recalling what he had read in textbooks.He was born in Surabaya. He mentioned it in his speech at the University of Pajajaran, Bandung, in the 1960s," said the attendant of Toga Mas bookshop in Malang, East Java.

Delivering the speech after he was awarded the title of honorary doctor from the university, Sukarno talked about his birthplace to correct the Pajajaran University rector's statement that he was born in Blitar.

If that is true, it means the public has the wrong information about Sukarno's birthplace and his wish has been incorrectly interpreted. Sukarno, whose grave is located in Blitar, once said his body should be buried in his birthplace.

The above controversy is only one of the surprising facts revealed in Sukarno's private collection of thousands of books, which now belong to Johan Budi Sava, the owner of the Toga Mas bookstore on Jl. Dieng in Malang.

Thousands of old books - published both inside and outside the country - are being arranged on the second floor of the bookstore, which will one day serve as a small museum.anyone can make use of these books for their research. People can also take a look at the collection. But not all of the books are available to read because most of the valuable books are old and fragile," said Johan, showing a 1825 map of Yogyakarta that is among the collection.

Many of the thousands of books are covered with a fine layer of dust or mold, and they are still in a mess. But Johan is proud of the collection.

"I got them by accident," said the 42-year-old businessman.

Last year, when he was in Bogor, West Java, to look for a place for his new bookstore, he was introduced to a businessman who had kept the books from Sukarno's private library. He was Sukarno's friend who had been asked to take care of the collection. As he could not do it any more, he asked Johan to take care of them. Johan accepted the offer right away.was as though I had stumbled across a hidden treasure. Just imagine, for the three containers of books, I was only asked to cover the maintenance fees," said Johan, adding that the books must be worth hundreds of millions of rupiah.must be what is called good luck. It happened unexpectedly. So I will make the best of the collection for the public, particularly the book lovers," he said.

Johan started his bookstore business from scratch. In the early 1990s he opened a bookstore for students in the garage of his small house in Malang. He went to Surabaya every week to buy books and sell them in his shop. There were times when he could not sleep for days as he did not have enough money to pay his debt of Rp 4 million (around US$430) to the book supplier.

But he did not give up and worked even harder to develop his business.the business grew well, we also used our living room to sell books. Our bedrooms later became storage rooms and for years we slept with books," Johan said.

After 15 years, he has bookstores in Malang, Jember, Denpasar, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Bandung and Jakarta. Next year he will open another one in Surabaya.

They have become alternative bookstores for book lovers, particularly students, because of the low prices and casual atmosphere inside the shops.

The Yogyakarta store was designed by renowned architect Eko Prawoto and has the feel of a traditional market, reminding visitors of the golden days of the low-price book kiosks in Yogyakarta's shopping centers or in Senen, Central Jakarta, years ago.

There is a big opportunity to develop the book market in Indonesia, according to Johan.

He said that only about 20 percent of the population regularly purchased books. Eighty percent of the more than 200 million people living in the country therefore comprise the potential market.

"This is not just about opening bookstores, it's about encouraging people to read books, which should be available at affordable prices," Johan said.

Only the Surabaya store is air-conditioned, so Johan can cut costs and sell the books for lower prices.

In order to attract more customers, Johan often holds book discussions in his stores, involving publishers, writers and literary figures like Garin Nugroho, Sindhunata and Frans Magnis Suseno.

Johan recalled that when he was a student, he preferred to buy cigarettes instead of books because books were expensive. One of Johan's lectures, apparently concerned by his bad habit, told him to stop smoking and save his money to buy books. The lecturer was really surprised when, years later, he met Johan and learned that he had taken such an interest in books he now owned a bookstore.

Johan, who graduated from Petra University in Surabaya in 1990, opened his first bookstore with his wife.

He is now a successful businessman who often receives invitations to talk about his achievements.

"But what makes me sad is that many people still prefer to spend their money on buying food at MacDonald's, Pizza Hut or KFC instead of buying books. They spend Rp 50,000 on food without a second thought, but they say a book of the same price is too expensive," Johan said.

"You can enjoy the benefits of books for the rest of your life, but fast food only stays in your stomach for two or three hours," said the father of two.

PAYING RESPECTS: Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri (third right) and her brothers and sisters visit the grave of their mother Fatmawati, the wife of founding president Sukarno, in Karet Bivak, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday. (JP/J. Adiguna na)

Forum launches book festival

The Jakarta Post

JAKARTA: In commemoration of World Book Day, non-profit organization Indonesia Reading Forum launched a three-day festival to celebrate the love of books on Thursday.

Organizers hope the event, supported by the Indonesian Literacy Institute and Library@Senayan, will be an opportunity for authors, publishers, distributors, community groups and the larger public to gather.

Held in building A of the National Education Ministry's headquarters in Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta, the event will include a book fair, writing workshops and discussions.

"This year's theme is Books for Change. We hope that the event will encourage people, especially children, to explore the fun of reading and writing," festival organizer Elizabeth Swanti said Thursday.

Aside from introducing children to the joy of reading, festival organizers will also collect book donations from the public.

"Anyone who wants to donate their books can do so at the festival venue," Elizabeth said.

LIPI publishes book on Javanese biodiversity

JAKARTA (Antara): The National Institute of Sciences (LIPI) launched a book Thursday about bio-diversity on Java Island titled The Mountain Flora of Java.

Written by botanist CCGJ van Stennis, the original book was first published in 1972 in Leiden, the Netherlands. Stennis worked in Bogor Botanical Park between 1927 and 1949.

The biological head researcher at the institute, Dedy Darmaedi, said the book was very valuable for the development of botanical science in Indonesia.

"Stennis' interest in recording and reviewing Indonesia's flora, especially those found on Java mountains, had resulted in many valuable papers," Dedy was quoted as saying by Antara news agency.

LIPI cooperates with the World Bank to publish the book after acquiring permission from the original publisher, E.J. Brill in Leiden. The book contains illustrations of 456 native Javanese flora species.

Library law needed in RI: Official

Alvin Darlanika Soedarjo, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia needs a library law in order to promote the development of libraries in areas outside the capital and secure a budget to increase their book collections, an official said Monday.

"A library law should help the ministry in building more libraries across Indonesia with a large collection of books," Education Ministry spokesman Bambang Wasito Adi told a press conference, which was held in conjunction with World Book Day.

"Right now we are preparing for it," he added.

Although World Book Day, the creation of UNESCO, fell on Monday, the ministry has organized a series of events at the Education Ministry building, next to Ratu Plaza on Jl. Sudirman in Jakarta, from April 26 to 29.

"Reading", Bambang said, "is an essential activity if we want to progress in life."

Several issues that to be tackled by the library law are the cost of the books, including the translation and local publication of foreign books, and the availability of reading material.

Nasir Tamara, national coordinator for the Millennium Development Goals set by the UNDP, said that building libraries in regencies would be a good challenge for the education ministry.

"Many studies have shown that the love or habit of reading determines people's well being," he said, while adding that each of Indonesia's 450 regencies should have a library for its community.

Nasir said the most important goal for Indonesia was to provide education for its people at least until the elementary school level.

"Elementary school students need good reading skills. Libraries can boost that skill for students," said Nasir, who is also a writer and a committee member of the Ubud Writers' Festival in Bali.

A legislator from the House of Representatives' Commission X on education affairs, Angelina Sondakh, said the draft library bill should include a tax exemption for textbooks.

"Besides the book tax, an umbrella organization for librarians should be discussed. In Indonesia, it's still unclear which institution should take care of them," Angelina, a member of the Democratic Party faction, said.

She added that in an era where people obtained information through CDs, VCDs or the Internet, printed books and literature had a tough challenge.

"There is a tendency for people now to want 'instant' information, rather than going through the process of reading a book."

"Books are useful to kill the time while waiting, such as for bus at the station. Or, for me, while waiting for a House meeting, I read a book," Angelina said.

Bambang said the Education Ministry would soon distribute library management software to people or organizations.

"Right now we still use the software provided by the British Council," Bambang said, adding that the system used by the U.K. was far more advanced than Indonesia's.

"Compared with the system applied in Cambridge, which first built its library in the year 1130, perhaps Indonesians are still living in the stone age," he said.

The library inside the Education Ministry building, he said, should become a model for local libraries.

"Last year's and this year's World Book Day celebrations have been held in Jakarta. It's imperative to hold such events outside the capital in the following years," Bambang said.

Award-winning Canadian author Deborah Ellis is scheduled to appear at the opening of the World Book Day Indonesia celebrations.

Kid's libraries strive for recognition

Prodita Sabarini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Little fingers were dancing fast Sunday as groups of children folded origami birds. Faces excited but in full concentration, the children folded while friends cheered from the side.

"Come on! You can do it!" supporters cheered from the sides, their voices echoing inside the Mega Glodok Kemayoran shopping center in North Jakarta.

Sunday saw the mall transform into a big playground for more than 400 children from Jakarta and surrounding areas.

Children from 42 community libraries across Greater Jakarta joined the second Olympics for Community Libraries, held by volunteer-based non-profit organization 1001BUKU, in conjunction with World Book Day on April 23.

Community libraries are community-based alternative education centers, where children can play and learn outside the official schooling system.

Jakarta has seen significant growth recently in these kinds of community centers, most of which have been initiated by non-government organizations and concerned individuals.

They are usually volunteer-based with sizes varying from solid establishments with vast book and educational toy collections, to small scale libraries with tiny collections in volunteers' garages.

"We're holding this event to give exposure to community libraries. They are vital for children's access to quality reading," said Mochamad Ariyo Faridh Zidni, a 1001BUKU volunteer, who was in charge in organizing the Olympics.

"However, (community libraries) receive very little support from the public. We hope that through this event people will get a heightened awareness and help community libraries," he added.

1001BUKU works to increase children's access to reading material by providing books and empowering community libraries across Indonesia.

Ariyo said the were around 70 community libraries in their network in Greater Jakarta and around 120 across Indonesia.

"This event is also an opportunity for people managing community libraries to meet and share experiences with each other. Meanwhile the kids can have some fun," he said.

Children at the Olympics shouted and sung the local children's song "Bermain Layang-layang" ("Flying Kites") to support their friends.

After making their origami birds, then raced each other to make and hand-paint paper kites.

"This is the creativity marathon competition," Ariyo said of the game.

Girls from the Rumah Cahaya community library in Jatibening, East Jakarta decorated their kite by stamping their paint-smudged hands on it. They were the first to finish the race, taking around 10 minutes to finish.

"It was exciting. We really had to work fast," said Pipit Rosiana, 11.

"I didn't care if we won or not. I'm just having fun here," said Chairunnisa, 11, Pipit's team mate.

Besides the marathon, the Olympics also had children compete to design and color bulletin boards, as well as vie with each other in a storytelling competition.

"We prepared the leads of the stories and the children had to finish the stories as creatively as possible," Ariyo said.

Gunawan, 27, founder of the Kuartet Community Library in Cibubur, said the event was good for the children. Some 31 children from his library came to the event.

"There should be more events like this," he said.

Gunawan said he and his friends set up their community library to give a place for children in their neighborhood to hang out and read. "We also play games, such as Brain Gymnastics, for the children. Bored children are the ones prone to doing dangerous things, such as taking drugs," he said.