ROLE of RURAL LIBRARIES 12 2.1 Purpose of Rural Library Service 13 2.2 Rural Libraries in the Promotion of 14 Functional Literacy

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·WEST MALAYSI A RURAL LIBRARIES IN

WEST MALAYSIA

WITH RECOMMENDATIONS

NOREHAN AHMAD

A Master's Degree Dissertation

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Master's Degree in Library Stud ies of the Loughborough University of Technology.

September 1980

Supervisor : .. Mr, ,K., A. StpclQ1am, .. Department of 'Library and .. ·Inro~tion St~dies... •

@ by Norehan Ahmad, 1980 TO MY DEAR AYAJl - who has given me all the encouragement and motiva tion, throughout my academic years. (ii)

Title Sheet (i)

Table of Contents (ii)

List of Abbreviations (v)

List of Tables (vi)

List of Photographs (vii)

List of Appendices (viii)

Aoknowledgements (ix)

Abstract (x)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPI'ER

1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Definitions 1 1.2/Social conditions of rural communities 2 in developed and developing countries. 1.3 Rural community in West Malaysia 1.4 Rural community in the state of Selangor

2 ROLE OF RURAL LIBRARIES 12 2.1 Purpose of rural library service 13 2.2 Rural libraries in the promotion of 14 functional literacy. 2.3 Attempts at functional literacy cam 19 paigns by rural libraries in some countries (iii)

3 DEVEIDPMENT OF RURAL LIBRARY SERVICES IN 26 WEST MALAYSIA 3·1 General development 26 3·2 Agencies providing rural library 28 services 3·3 Mini9try of Agriculture and Rural 29 Development. 3.4 Community Development Division cr KEMAS 30 ).4.1 KEMAS and rural libraries 30 ).4.2 KEMAS and Adult Education 32 Programmes. 3.4·3 KEMAS and administration of J4 3·5 rural libraries 3·5 Federal Land Develcpment Authority 46 (FELDA)

4 PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES TO RURAL AREAS IN 52 liEST. MALAYSIA 4.1 Brief history of public libraries 52 4.1.1 Legislative provisions 53 4.1.2 .State Puclic Library Corporation 54 4.1.3 National Library 55 4.2 Selangor Public Library services to 56 Rural Areas 4.2.1 Brief history of Selangor Public 56 Libra.-y Corporation 4.2.2 Selangor Public Library - Functions 57 4.2.3 Selangor Public Library - rural 58 library services 4.2.4 Organisation of rural library 58 services 4·3 Kedah Public Library Services to Rural 65 Areas 4.3·1 Brief history of Kedah Public 65 Library Corporation 4.).2 Kedah Public Library - Functions 66 4.3·3 Kedah Public Library - rural 66 library services. (iv)

4.3.4 Organisation of rural library 67 services

5 PLANNING RURAL LIBRARY SERVICES : 77 RECONMENDATIONS 5.1 Problem: Organisation of rural 77 libraries . 5.2 Recommendations 78

6 CONCWSION 87 LIST OF AB.BREVIATIONS

BBR BUik Bacaan Rancangan

FELDA Federal Land Development Authority

KEMAS Kemajuan Masyarakat

LAS Library Association of Singapore

MlG ~~layan Library Group

MPLA Malayan Public Library Association

PPM Persatuan Perpustakaan Malaysia

UNDp· United Nations Development Programme

UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (vi)

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE PAGE

r Population by state in 1975 in West Malaysia. 5

II Population by community in Malaysia. 5

III Population by state capitals in West Malaysia. 6

IV Percentage of illiteracy in West Mal~sia. 6

V Total population in 1970 in Selangor. 9

VI Project I Rural Libraries (Kemas). 37

VII Development of KEMAS rural libraries in the various states in West Mal~sia and the number it serves. 39

VIII Collection of books in branch / mobile libxaries of the Kedah Public Libxary. 71 (vii)

LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS

PHOTOGRAPHS

(a) Kedah Public Library Corporation's headquarters at Alor star. 67

(b) View of the Sungei Petani branch library 68

(d) A model of a mobile van 'Mercedes Benz ( 0309D / 35 ). 69

(e) Library collection at the Alor star Public Library. 70

(f) Library Assistant at the counter at the Sungei Petani Branch library. 70

(g) Reading or reference areas of two branch libraries in Kedah 74

(h) as above. 74 (viii)

LIST OF APPENDICES

APPENDIX

• 1 Capital Expenditure of KEMAS for 1980 104

2 Operating Expenses of KEMAS for 1980 105

Organisation of 'Kemas' rural libraries I 3 1 list of duties of library attendants. 107

4 Summa.ry of the main recommendations of the Blueprint to Public Library Develop- ment. 109

5 Selangor Public Library, branch libraries and mobile library stops and routes. 115

6 Kedah Public Library"branch libraries and mobile library stops and routes 116 (ix)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to thank all those people who have assisted me so gene rously in the compilation of this dissertation, without whom the com pletion of this work would not have been possible.

Mr. K. A. Stockham, my supervisor, who has sacrificed his pre cious time in providing me with constructive criticisms and sugges tions, all the way.

My special thanks too, to my colleagues in the Selangor and Kedah Public Libraries, Malaysia and to Miss Nor Alkaff, a librarian from Tunku Abdul Rahman College, Kuala Lumpur, whom have spared their time in gathering the relevant materials on this topic. Not forget ting, of course, all my good friends at 51, Oxford street, in Lough borough, Leicestershire.

To my dear father, who from 7,000 miles away, has given me the moral support I most needed to complete this dissertation.

Lastly to Mr. Abdul Razak bin Abdul Majid, who did all the ty ping for me. (x)

ABSTRACT

In recent years, there is a growing interest in rural libraries development by various authorities in West Malaysia. Many problems such as poor coordination, shortage of funds and staff, are being en countered in their attempts in establishing libraries in the rural areas.

The various types of services and problems faced by the govern ment agencies and the state Public Library Corporation are being dis cussed. Recommendations are provided and hopefully the state Public Library Corporations will absorb the various rural libraries already established into their own system as soon as it is feasible to do so.

\ . 1

Introduction 1

1.1 Defi~tions.

In most if not all the developing countries, the bulk of the po pulation live in the rural areas. In Malaysia about 72% of its 12 million people are categorized as 'rUral,.l

The Encyclopedia of Social Science defines rural society as com prising all persons residing in the open country or all persons con nected directly with agricultural occupations or all persons residing in administrative units of less than a given size. A 'DictionarY of the Social Sciences' by Gould and Kolb gives the following definition: 'A society or community may be classified as 'rural' by the following criteria which denotes areas of a continuum: lower population density; less social differentiation; less social and spatial mobility; slower rates of social change; agriculture as a major occupation and the cen

tering of politico-economic system in the holding of land.'

In Malaysia local units having a population of less than 10,000 people are defined as rural and these are widely scattered. The rural

population in the country is predominantly engaged in agriCUltural oc

cupations as agriculture occupies a very ,dominant position in the r~ tion's economy. This is evident from the fact that it produces about 2 one-third of the entire national product, provides one-half of the emp loyment for the labour force and supplies almost two~thirds of Malaysia's exports.

In the United states of America, the basic classification used by the Bureau of the Census is that according to residence. The 'ru ral-nonfarm' population includes all persons living outside urban areas who do not reside on farms. It would include persons living in non farm houses in the open country, persons residing in villages and ham lets of less than 2,500 and in the areas su=ounding smaller cities.2

1.2 Social conditions of rural communities in developed and developing countries.

Farmers normally reside on the land they till. This agricultu ral occupation in many cases limits their life and channels of commu nication. Their social interaction is within a na=ow scope. Soil, insects, animal breeding, domestic routine, tools, weapons that they use influence their attitudes, interests, transaction systems, their income and expenditure, politics, racial, social relationship, educa tion and hygiene, language etc.

Common characteristics of rural community deprivation are the poor supply of water, lack of hospitals and libraries, unreliable electricity and poor communication facilities. These are particularly apparent in most developing countries such as those in Latin ,America, Africa and South-East Asia. 3

In developing countries there often exists rural to urban migra tion. This is initiated by the priority of national development in urban areas, given by the government. Governments.have begun to·rea lize such conse'l.uences of concentrating on the urban areas only and so, now have spread industrial activities to rural areas as well. In Malaysia, the government has started to open up industries in the ru ral areas so as to create employment.

In the U.S.A., France, Britain and other developed countries the differences between the living conditions of the town dweller and those of a rural man are not so great. A western farmer who lives on an isolated farm is completely accessible to water, radio, television, car, excellent road system and well distributed garages and petrol stations. He has access to a wide range of printed and non-printed materials to develop his level of thinking and bringing him closer to local and international affairs. On the contrary in developing count ries, the picture is 'l.uite different. The farmer's life is largely regulated by a meagre credit which is sometimes reduced further due to the shrewd and cunning middleman's intervention.

The best weapon to fight these never ending discontentments of the people in the rural areas is by providing education to rural peo ple, be it the young or the older generations. Education is not an. immediate solution to counter such problems but it is a sure means of eventually enriching one's life, developing one's capacities and abi lities to improve one's position. Illiteracy is common in rural com munities and therefore combating illiteracy is the primary stage of the education process for when more people are made literates they 4 are more likely to accept the modern achievements of technology.

In developed countries such as Britain today, the process of urbanization and industrialization have reached a more advanced stage. The rural population comprises a minority of the total. Today only about 25% of population may be regarded as living in rural areas which include lower density residential areas around the larger towns and countries as well as the whole of smaller country towns. 3 Within this rural sector of the population, the farming population now forms only

a minority. This situation is very different from that in many other countries particularly the developing countries and from the situation in the world as a whole. The majority of the world's population today live in rural areas.

1.3 Rural community in West Malaysia.

According to the 1970 census the total population of West Malaysia was 8,810,)48 people. Out of this total population 71.3% live in rural 4 areas and 28.7% reside in urban areas. In 1975, the population in West Malaysia increased to 10,050,335 people (see Table I). The main composition of the different races by community of the population is

seen in Table II. Population in the town centres, is shown in Table

Ill.

Rural areas in Malaysia is characterised by the "kampong" or village way of live of dispersed or nucleated settlement pattern. Their degree of accessibility varies with their distance from the t01IDS. 5

TABLE I Population by state, 1975 in West Malaysia.

state Year Population

Johore 1975 111:'> 1,447,880 l:bOIIT'J~ I I /(~ L., >1'il Kedah .. 1,094,841 "<7]' pI Kelantan .. 789,452 Malacca .. 465,688 Negri Sembilan .. 558,804 Pahang .. 567,743 Penang .. 867,639 Perak .. 1,795,986

Perlis .. 1)4,6)4 1y-1 J 11l Selangor .. 1,860,039 1,!Pb J , '" 41 Trengganu .. 467,629 <;

Total 10,050,335 ,

TABLE II POpulation by community in Malaysia.

Community Persons Percentage

Malays 4,886,912 46.8 Chinese 3,555,870 34.1 Indians 942,944 9.0 Dayaks 386,260 3·7 Kadazans 184,512 1.8 It other natives 337,395 3·2 Others 145,628 1.4

It Muruts, Bajaus, Melanaus and others. 6

TABLE III Population by state capitals in West Malaysia.

Capital City/Town Year Population

Johore BOOru 1970 135,936 A10r Setar " 66,179 Kota BOOru " 55,052 Malacca Town " 86,357 Seremban " 79,915 Kuantan " 66,102 Georgetown " 270,019 Ipoh " 247,689 Kangar " 8,757 Kua1a Trengganu " 53.353 Shah Alam 1974 5,500~ Kua1a Lumpur 840,000 (Federal Capital) 1974 ,

~ Estimated

TABLE IV Percentage of illiteracy in West 11alaysia.

Peninsular Malaysia

Persons Percentage

Urban population 585,952 6 Rural population 1,785,704 21 Total population 2.371,656 27 7

Many rural areas in Malaysia are accessible not only by narrow roads but by means of rivers.

-The rural scene in Malaysia, after the implementation of First Malaysia Plan (1965-1970), Second Malaysia Plan (1971-1975) and Third Malaysia Plan (1976-1981), is changing under rapid economic develop , ments.

A network of roads, water and electricity facilities and other public utilities are provided in most areas. The government hopes to achieve an economic balance between those people in the rural areas and those in the urban areas. The extension and expansion of educa -tion to the rural areas is sigqificant since the illiteracy rate is relatively higher in the rural areas than in the urban areas (see Table IV)

The intellectual growth of the community, embodying the spirit of self-reliance and the positive attitudes to participate actively in the whole range of socio-economic programmes should be a prerequisite to the economic development of any country. However the education of children and adults should not end in the classroom. It should be constantly supplemented and refreshed by information imparted through the mass media, the printed word and other audio-visual materials via the provision of a library service. 8

1.4 Rural community in the state of Selangor.

Selangor covers a land area of 3,167 s~uare miles with about a million population (see Table V). out of this nearly 976,830 acres have been opened for agriculture and only 79% is for the cultivation of rubber, coconut, palm oil, fruit trees, coffee, pineapples, tea, vegetables, food crops and padi. A large 'area is for rubber (57%), palm

oil (15%), coconut (l~), padi (6.5%), fruit and vegetables (2.9%) and coffee (1.8%).5

A high proportion of people in the rural segment of Selangor is

engaged in agriculture. In Sabak Bernam area the main occupation or cultivation is palm oil and coconuts. The majority of the population consists of the primary rural population. The primary rural population are those persons and their families who are directly dependent on the activities of farming, forestry, horticulture and other agricultural activities for their livelihcod.

Apart from this primary rural popUlation there are others known as secondary rural, pOPulation.6 These are the service workers and their families. They may include shopkeepers, doctors, garage proprie- tors, agricultural engineers, builders, teachers and other government servants. They comprise of the people who live in the small towns of the rural areas.

In areas of Ulu Langat, Ulu Selangor and Kuala Selangor the main

occupaticns are rubber and palm oil cultivation.7 As in Tanjong Karang and Sabak Bernam these places are known as padi areas.8 The distribu- 9

TABLE V Total population in 1970 in Selangor.

Selangor

Klang 232,867 Kuala Langa t 107,212 Kuala Selangor 135,388 Sabak Bernam 77,956 Ulu Langat 96,338 Ulu Selangor 103,859

Total 753,614

}! Excluding Kuala Lumpur 875,772 as Federal Territory

TABLE I-V SOURCE MALAYSIA. Statistics Department. Population and housing census in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpurs Statistics Department,1972. (New census of the population is still being camed this year, and new figures would be released by 1981. 10 tion of population in the rural areas are scattered all over the land. They are not compact together and not confined to one particular area. The nature of the distribution does give rise to acute difficulties in providing mcbile library service to these areas.

Comparatively, Selangor's rural community has superseded 'the other states in Malaysia in its social and economic development. The socio-economics of the population is well fabricated. The rural people are provided with education and the increase in the number of schools, tends to indicate that there is an increasing interest on the part of the parents to educate their children.

Modern communications and transportations have drawn the town closer to its surrounding areas. A town serves as the service centre for the people who live in the surrounding rural areas. The economy of the town and that of the rural area are closely interlinked. . The advent of modern transport and communication facilities has created the basis for the urban-rural partnership in the local government. The construction of new roads into the villages helps to establish accessibility to the isolated villages.' and kampongs and with the near est urban areas.

In the state, there is a migration of people not only from the rural to the urban centres but a movement from less developed rural areas to properly developed rural areas. The people seem to be att racted to areas which have received government's attention that is in those areas with development projects being carried out. 11

Rural depopulation, due to mainly economic pressure led to millions of people especially in the younger groups to leave their home in the hope of getting better lives by working in the prosperous industries and mines of the towns.

The in-migration of internal movement of people from rural to urban areas can create social problems if such migration is not accompa nied with co-existing economic-growth.9 As for the library, this will pose problems when making provisions of libraries in these areas and in determining stopping centres for each community or area. « However Selangor's situation with regards to in-migration is not that acute since the availability of social and economic facilities in the rural areas is 'luite good.

Selangor, compared to the other states in West Malaysia is 'luite lucky since its rural development is much ahead of the others. Its rural areas are provided with essential communal facilities, such as roads, water supply, electricity, medical, educational, religious and other useful services. There are of course areas within it which has not enjoyed these facilities, but the government is taking every step to develop these areas.

/ / j 12

Role of Rural Libraries 2

• Library service of any quality in rural areas is a very new, in deed a concept which, by and large has stirred little interest among

librarians~specially in developing countries. The history of libra ries extends over several 1000 years and throughout that period they have characteristically urban institutions found in palaces, noblemen's houses, religious institutions, universities and major towns but seldom or never in country villages.lO It is only in the twentieth cent~J and partly the second half of that century, that the need has been recognized for effective rural library service. Funds have become more available, to finance it and techniques have developed to make it prac- tically possible. Rural library service has been given poor attention by most librarians themselves up to today.

Yet it is in the country that our food must be grown without

which the cities would starve and it is in ~~e country that two-thirds of the world's population lives.ll Undernourishment is one of the ma-

jor problems of the world today and the rural migration, anothe.r~._Ef. - fective.library and information aervices ,have on the other hand bee

. , -. ~ -. \ recognized in the urban areas. However we tend to forg~t that a larger '~-"---" group of people living in the rural areas are equally or even much more - ." --- _. .. -- ---'-,----" -- -- - in need of'such services for the same reasons as in the urban areas

such as for technical information, for ed~cation, for cultural develop- 13

ment and for the social well being generally.

The time is ripe for librarians to change these traditional at- ti~udes, to recognize that rural library and information service rep- '- .. - .--~ --.- .. _.-----,. --~-. resents one of the major professional challenge of today, at least as --.. -.-'- '." . ". important as the challenge of the computer, and above all to recognize that the citizen who lives in the country is just as important as the one who lives in the city and deserves at least as much of our profes sional thought and a fair proportion of our resources.12

2:.l. Purpose of rural library service.

Rural library service hopes to improve the life of the community which the library serves by: (a) making available to all who can benefit therefrom books

and other sources of information, education and recreation within that order of priority which will tend to the personal development of the individual or the social development of the community. (b) providing staff trained (but not always professionally qualified) to exploit its book stock, to give information to users and to assist them to make the best use of the library materials and resources. (c) housing the library in premises where it is convenient to

encourage its use, in order to reflect its values to the community. 13 14

Two characteristic forms of rural library are found in the school library and the public library, though there may be in other special ised libraries such as agricultural colleges. The role of the school library is to assist and enrich the educational programme of the school. However a public library has more diffuse aims and there lies a danger in an attempt to provide 'all things to all men' because it may lack clarity of purpose, of priorities and of policy and as a result do no thing more effectively.14 A considerable number of urban libraries have fallen into this error but the danger is greater in rural areas because the libraries are smaller, the librarians are likely to be less profes sionally aware and because of local pressures are more immediate.15

Methods chosen to run a public library L~ the rural community must be geared to the satisfaction of the people - the young, the better educa- r-----',.------~ -<- - ted, the more alert and the progressive members of society, those who will receive mental sti~lation from reading books and eventually con tribute considerably to the betterment of the community.

2.2 Rural libraries in the promotion of functional literacy.

Literacy and economic development are virtually interlocked and inseparable as can be seen by the fact that all the economically deve loped countries have a high level of literacy and all the developing countries a high level of illiteracy.16~Libraries are very important in rural areas where there.is a.need to keep new literates, not only literate but functionally literate. The new literates must gradually be led into the habit of looking to books and the written word as a whole as a source of new ideas, information, knowledge and even enter-. 15 tainment. A new literate is not able to climb alone this ladder of ha bitual reading. Yet the ultimate goal is that he should acquire self sustaining literacy and eventually join the stream of continuing edu

cation.

Therefore the library represents one of the possible briages to reach that goal. Its function are :- (i) to bring books nearer to the new literate to help him re tain his. literacy by enabling him to exercise his skill through regular and easy access to reading materials. (ii) to make useful materials available in an attempt to improve production and other economic practices. (iii) to act as the neccessary nucleus for wider educational programmes including discussion groups, reading circles and other continuing education activities. (iv) to·make suitable accommodation available for the use of classes and groups of students. In many ways, public lib raries are excellent meeting places for adult classes. (v) to act as a source of information about adult education opportunities in the locality. This is very often done, mainly in a passive way; posters are displayed and leaflets

may be distributed. If public libraries in rural areas could play a more active role in publicizing adult educa tion, giving advice and acting as a recruiting agent, they would perform an invaluable information and counselling

service.

(Vi) to promote the library status as a cultural centre by en couraging voluntary associations in providing a home for 16

local societies, by helping in the planning of their educa tional programmes and by itself taking the initiative, when- ever it sees an unsatisfied need. (vii) to advertise the need for tutors and sponsors of litera~ classes and refer these people to centres where they are needed. (viii) to promote the various activities in connection with litera

cy by displays, radio and television broadcasts, press re-

leases and by other promotional materials or media. The current lack of library promotion in projecting the libraries' prograJllllles is not uncommon in the Malaysian public library scene. This is due to the fact that most public libraries do not have adequate staff and financial backing to carry any kind of promotional activity for the library.

In Malaysia, public libraries in rural areas have·not contributed to a great extent in functional literacy programmes compared to the other agencies which are sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA). Unfortunately there is no coordination between the various organisations. In the next chapter, we shall examine the types of programmes or pro jects that are being carried out by these agencies in West Malaysia.

Several attempts have been made to promote literacy programmes in new developing countries. In September 1965, after the World Congress of Ministers of Education in TeheraJ? Unesco's functional literacy programmes were launched with pilot projects in twelve countries: Algeria, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guines, India, Iran, Madagascar, Mali, Sudan, Syria, 17

Tanzania and Venezuela. The basic assumption is that the teaching of literacy through ocbupations can boost production as well as facilitate the literacy instruction process itself. Literacy instruction is selec tive and intensive rather than comprehensive and extensive as in the traditional approach. Tanzania is one of the countries selected to launch one of the agriculture based work oriented adult literacy pilot proJec. t s. 18

The literacy programme launched by Unesco is divided into three . 19 major phases : (i) the preDatory phase - initial. field surveys planning etc. (this phase revealed the need of libraries). (ii) the operational phase - implementation of the plans ego training teachers, opening classes. (iii) the follow-up phase - which should last until new literates become compulsive, purposeful readers.

The introduction of a library in a village where a functional literacy campaign has been launched affects the environment of that vil lage. 20 Villagers who have somehow learnt to read are seen to put their skill to use and gradually new ideas gained from books are casually introduced into conversations at social or public gatherings e.g. meetings, markets, bars etc. The illiterate villagers may feel at a disadvantage. Literates lead the discussions. The cultural environment is enriched by the emergence of enlightened people in the community.

This impact on the socio-cultural environment is likely to in fluenc~ the literacy programme in several ways.2l 18

(1) It will encourage more people to register for classes. They will be exposed to the fact that there is knowledge to be

acquired or entertainment to be had if only they can master the skills of reading, writing and arithmetic. This should provide the incentive for more regular attendance of classes and make for faster progress in lessons. (2) From the functional point of-view, a number of books in the village library will be dealing with subjects that are treated in the primers. e.g. agriculture, home economics, political education etc. Such contact with a wider range of books on topics mentioned above, through the literacy

reader reading to them or by the mere knowledge of their existence will, in due course, stimulate greater interest

in the classes as well as in the subject themselves. (3) The literacy teacher, being complementary to the village scene, will find it extremely convenient to refer to the vil lage library as a source of knowledge and as the place people should go to once they have the skill of reading. The li teracy teacher himself should encourage the use of the lib rary through explaining to the class various parts of a book and how to go about in choosing the most suitable books ie. preface, introduction, list of contents, list of illustra tions, chapter headings, the glossary etc. 19

2.3 Attempts at functional literacy campaigns by rural libraries in some countries.

In this section of Chapter 2; I wish to portray some attempts made by certain countries at literacy programmes either thrcugh the lending of the library books or by actually carrying out classes within the

library premises for the people, be it the young or the old who are il-

literates or are new literates. In this way we can get a rough picture of the various techniques used to elevate the literacy rate of the particular community in a country, using the rural libraries or village libraries as the stepping-stones.

In Tanzania, the work oriented Ad~lt Literacy Pilot Project in the Lake Regions of Tanzania was sponsored jointly by United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and the Tanzanian government with Unesco as the executing agency. About twenty libraries have been set up and eventually it is envisaged to have ten libraries in each sub-pilot areas22 and in 'Ujamaa' villages in the pilot districts. Most of these . libraries have been placed in the care of literacy teachers or primary school teachers and at the disposal of the community at large.23 The literacy programme is conducted in Swahili and this poses a prob lem since this-language carried an estimated total of 5CC titles (limi ted number) most of which for various reasons are not suitable for new literates or even other category of readers. For example, the language used might be too difficult; the subjects might be treated at too high a level and the presentation (e.g. size of type, use of illustrations) are sometimes inappropriate. Quite a few of the books are written for schools and many are just not functional e.g. books on religion or fic- 20 tion. Literacy programmes cannot be carried out successfully if there are no concerted efforts made to produce literature at a rate that will satisfy the demands made by the increasing number of literates in the country. Such a problem with regards to limited literature in the national language is found in West Malaysia as well. However this problem pertain~ to lack of literature in the national language in Malaysia is less severe than in most other new developing nations.

The system adopted in the literacy programme is based on small fixed centre with a literacy teacher as the librarian (see Fig. i) Portable book boxes which can be borrowed by literacy teachers for cir- cUlation in the isolated class centres are being carried out.

A I I I I I I I V D~-----~ ~ixed~ ___ . ___>B Ll.brary I I I I

I C'"

------~ Box leaves the fixed centre for class centre A where it remains for Q. week. It is then brought to the fixed library, the stock checked·and change and dispatched to class centre B, etc. Box goes to class centre A and without changing stock circulates through to D and·in the fifth week returns to the fixed library.

Fig. I System of book box circulation in Tanzania. 24 21

The main object here is to get people acquainted with books and parti cularly to bring their attention to the existence of,a fixed library at a larger village; also to stimulate their interest.

Discussion groups, are also formed to provide a bridge for new li terates between graduation in literacy and the stage when they can be reasonably expected to use books on' their OWT.. A selective programme called, 'Primer to library',' is designed to, Ca) help the new literate through the discussion method to de velop new ideas with the aid of written texts, study guides, questions and discussicns.

Cb) ~dually introduce new literates to various books related to the written texts. Cc) provide a forum for reading practice through reading aloud to the group and assignments to be read at home in prepara tion for subsequent meetings. The discussion-group leaders are the librarians-cum-literacy teachers with some addi tional special,training.

In India mid Pakistan, on the other hand, the quality of services , are still not up to standard. The village libraries function as isola ted units, mostly with meagre stagnating collections. No great effort has been undertaken to carry out functional literacy progranunes due to unstable political situations, the difficulty faced by the public lib

rary authorities in condoning the scattered. population to initiate 111; rary services effectively and due to f,inancial limitations. The type of servioes provided is very minimal which is mainly book'lending ser vices. In India, although the 'green revolution' and the development 22 activities of the government are changing the complexion of rural society, village people are rather complacent. They often re~~in passive recipients of wp~tever amenities are given to them and do not generally clamour for library services. 25

In Pakistan, it is only in recent years with the country-wide re- volutionary reforms of the People's Representatives Government that the traditional assumptions have been challenged. The Education policy

1972-80, envisages that a public library system will be establ~shed throughout the country. 26 Under this programme, 50,000 people-oriented libraries will be established in villages and city wards. The Education policy proposes a massive shift in favour of elementary education, adult literacy and literacy corps, the aim being to change the attitude of the people. The people of Pakistan believes that.· no one is more qualified either by education or temperament than the librarian to advance the cause of adult literacy.27

In U.S.S.R. the network of village public libraries was created systematically in conformity with the national economic plan of the Soviet Union and in keeping with principles and norms that have been approved in the Union republic on the pattern of the 'Guiding principles for the crganization of a uniform network of public libraries.,28

In organizing a library service for the rural population, the Soviet State does not only want to ensure that the library books will be utilized but it also requires the librarians to play an active expla- natory role, in the hope of bringing about a steady growth in the number of readers, accustoming each reader to systematic reader and intro- 23 ducing the broad masses of the people to what is best in literature from the ideological, informative, scientific or artistic points of view. The cultural revolution which has taken place in the country and the significant rise in the level of literacy and education have led to a universal demand for beoks.

The skilful combination of the existing public interest in reading clubs and the regular financial support from the state has contributed greatly to the extension of the network of libraries in Bulgaria.29 In Bulgaria public libraries include the general lending libraries through out the country which is divided into 27 districts.30 In each of theEe districts, there is a central library which is responsible for the general direction and advice of all smaller libraries within its area. These smaller libraries, similar to the branch libraries existing in

cities and the counties in the United Kingdom, are mainly found in

Chitalishte and trade union clubs.

There are 4,500 Chitalishte in BUlgaria.3l Every village has one, and larger towns will have one in each district. Chitalishte is, in

other words, a cultural centre, consistip,g of a lib~ary, a theatre that can be used either as a cinema, or for music or drama, a number of small

lecture ~ooms for courses and classes, smaller lecture halls and committee rooms. Each Chitalishte is governed by a ccmmittee made up of

local residents. Financially, it is aided by the state, and in the ru

ral areas partly by the cooperative farms.

The pattern of the bookstock of each of these Chitalishte libra ries was large collections of bocks:- (a) by Bulgarian authors 24

(b) by Russian authors (c) on politics,: MarXism and the history of the Communist party, with smaller stocks on (d) general non-fiction subjects (e) foreign authors in Bulgarian translation.32

The rural librarians in Bulgaria are not always able. to find the most suitable forms of popularization of scientific literature, popular science books, and works of Bulgarian and world classics.33 There seem to be a greater stimulation in bcok reading in the rural areas via radio broadcasts, reader conferences'on special subjects, meetings between readers arJl writers especially in familiarizing readers with new and interesting books.

Mr. K.A.Stockham observed that eventho~h the country is relative ly a very poor country, much has been achieved towards provision of lib raries at all levels.34 The libraries, like the bookshops, have a clear notion of their educational purpose, and most reading is done for infor- mat ion and education and not for pleasure. The propaganda element is still very strong but the basis exists of a first class library system.

In Hungary, the present system of village libraries is based on a decree of the Council of Ministers in 1952.35 The decree established the network of. county libraries to the civil administration of the country and with the aim of raising the general cultural level. Today every Hungarian village has a library or a lending service. People li

ving in scattered farms and in places ~ar away from cultural activities are supplied with books and other cultural services by mobile services. These mobile libraries, perform reference.library services, lend beoks, organize lectures and project documentaries or feature films. The stock

:.'" 25 of the mobile libraries are regularly changed.

Another type of village library in Hungary is called the village regional library and is organized to supply books for three to six vil lages having a total population of from 3,000 to 5,000 persons.36 It does basic general library work, such as lending books and periodicals to both adult readers and children. The response obtained from the village dwellers is considerably goo~. Today there are more than 4,500 borrowed volumes per thousand village dwellers and for one unit there are 2.6 borrowings. 37

In Korea, the literacy campaign is being carried out by mini libraries in the rural areas.· The mini libraries are uniquely Korean institutions designed to provide the literate population of South Korea with reading materials. In Korea, literacy among the rural population is very high, it is estimated to be more than 80 per cent.38 Illite- racy is mostly confined to those over forty years of age; The mini libraries install at least one book shelf that can hold about 300 books in every one of more than 35,000 villages in rural Korea where about 40% of 37 million people live.39 In addition to bookshelves, a 'reading club' is organized in each village with a cadre of volunteers to run the mini library. 26

Deve lop men t of Rura I library Services 3 in West Malaysia

3.1 General development.

Rural library development in West Malaysia wa.s initially the main / responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Federal Land Development Authority (F£LDA). It was only at a later stage that the state public library corporations participated in the development of rural libraries. The pattern of rural library de-

velopment follows very closely to the principles laid down L~ Mrs. Hedwig Anuar's "Blueprint for Public Library Development in Malaysia. ,,40 . . ~e Blueprint recognised the need for library service in the rural areas and expressed that public library services should be provided l\ freely on equal terms to all members of the community. Further the Blueprint recommended that service to rural areas, including mobile

library services should be provided separately by FELDA and the Minis try of Agriculture and Rural Development initially and then should be 41 gradually taken over by the Public Library Corporation.

It ca.~ clearly be observed that with effect of the above recom- 27 mendation, rural libraries provision do not come within the framework of Public Library Corporations initially but only at a later stage of the development •. It is not surprising then, that a lot of controver- sies have arisen as to which authority should initiate and implement rural library development. The situation is such that the responsibilities for rural library services are divided between two bodies, the the Minis1":ry of Agriculture and Rural Development and FELDA, which are both not within the jurisdictions of the state governments. The state governments are the ones which have an ultimate interest in the deve lopment of the rural library services of their respective states and not the Federal Government. The Federal Government is concerned over the overall development with~ ·th~ country only.

However, it is inevitable that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and FELDA should undertake the responsibility because at this present moment, most state public libraries which serve as the centre for rural library development are not very self-sustain-

ing in terms of manpower and financial status. The state public libraries, usually nurture their urban libraries, where the literacy rate of the people are higher compared to the rural people, before they start outreaching to the rural areas within the state. The two states

in Malaysia which have superseded the other states in their outreach programmes to the rural people are Selangor and Kedah. In Chapter 4, we shall see the kind of services carried out by the state public lib raries of Selangor and Kedah. Eventually, when the state libraries - have provided a sufficient network of branch and mobile libraries in

the rural areas, the responsibilities held on by the two agencies mentioned earlier on, will be handed over to the rightful authorities, 28 which are the state public library corporations.

The development of library services in the rural areas cannot be improved if the present state is seen to continue. It is time, I feel that rural library development should only be the sole responsibility of the state public library corporations. This will help eradicate any kind of duplication of resources or work between the various agen cies. There should be coordination and this could be carried out if the present rural library programmes within each state are coordinated and intensified within the framework of an organised library service supported by state and federal funds.

3.2 Agencies providing rural library service.

At present, library and information services in the rural areas of West Malaysia are being provided not only by the Ministry of Agri culture and Rural Development, FELDA and the state Public Library Corporations but by other agencies such as the Malaysian Association of Youth Clubs, the 'Orang Asli' (Aboriginies) Department and the

Education Department. In this section of the chapter, I wish to des cribe in greater detail, the contributions provided by the Ministry of

Agriculture and Rural Development and FELDA in rural library develop ment in West Malaysia. 29

3.3 Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In 1961, the Ministry under a different name, then the Ministry of National and Rural Development was entrusted the task of revitali- sing the living conditions in the rural areas. The government spent millions of dollars in building a network of public utilities in the rural areas. The rural ~opulation which consisted mainly of the Malay ethnic group or the 'bumiputra' was encouraged to participate in the numerous development programmes. These programmes were organized to give the rural people a better way of life changing their 'stiff' attitudes towards innovations and in eradicating illiteracy admist po- verty. The Ministry created various sections. within its organisation to carry out these programmes. One of these divisions was the Commu nity Development Division or Bahagian Kemajuan Masyaraka t (KEMAS) • . This division is responsible for the establishmsnt of rural library services. The government felt the need for creating rural libraries because:

(i) According to the 1970 National Census the literacy rate in Peninsular Malaysia is only 62.7% (Sabah 44.3%, Sarawak 38.2%)

for those aged 10 years and above. This rate is bound to de- teriorate with relapse into illiteracy if there were no follow up programme to maintain it. (ii) With rapid development going on, the rural population needs to keep pace with these through the written media, in order not to be left behind and in order to benefit more fully from it all.

(iii) For the rural school children, there is a need to supplement the reference materials that are normally available in school 30

libraries. (iv) All government agencies would benefit from the existence of a permanent centre to channel 'their written media. 42

3.4 Community Development Division or KEMAS.

In the Malaysian context, 'community development is a movement designed to promote a better living for the whole community with the active participation on the initiative of the community. ,43 Basically it is a process of informal education and training of the people in various areas. It includes adult imparting of new skills and general knowledge in order to improve their environmental and domestic conditions.

Amongst the activities carried out by this Division under the Second Malaysia Plan (1971-1975) are:- (i) Women Training Centre or 'Taman Latihan Wanita'. (ii) Community development in rural areas. (iii) Day Markets or 'Pekan-pekan sehari'. (iv) Rural libraries.

3.4.1 KEMAS and Rural Libraries.

The rural library services organized by this Division was started in 1971. The rural library project is developed out of the changing emphasis from adult education programme to community development programmes. In the beginning these programme was carried out in a mo- 31 derate manner but after several years, the response from the rural po pulation was quite overwhelming that there was a dire need to increase the library centres. The rural libraries are now accessible to each and everyone in the community, whereas initially it was restricted only to students undergoing the adult education classes. KEMAS, however is still not satisfied with the organisation of the libraries and the authorities feel that the publicity given to the public about these libraries are not well carried out. The impact that should be received by the broad masses in the rural areas through the libraries is still not effective because of the lackadaisical attitudes of most of the rural population towanis the benefits of libraries.

The importance of reading in increasing one's knowledge and in developing one's mental attitude is realised by the government authorities. Reading should be a habit cultivated by everyone in the country. Based on these realisations, KEMAS has set up the rural libraries, for which the Ministry hopes to:-

(1) provide follow-up readL~g materials to prevent new adult lite-

rates and ex-school children from relapsing into illiteracy. (2) build up a source of additional reference materials for school children. (3) provide information on subjects which have direct relation to the the everyday life of the rural people for instance on agricultu c,\ ral . matters, health, economic affairs etc • . (4) instill and cultivate reading habits amongst the youths.44

The libraries which are established in strategic rural areas serve manifold functions, assisting community development on one hand 32 and supplementing adult education programme on another aspect.

3.4.2 KEMAS and Adult Education Programmes.

Adult education is one of the strategies for the development of rural economy. It is aimed at combating illiteracy and in producing literate 9itizens who will be able to read and write, and at the same time serve the country in a civic minded manner. This programme when initially introduced in 1961, involves a :3 years course in whi.ch an adult was required to go through a Preliminary, an Intermed'iate and finally an Advanced level of teaching. Only when an adult has suc- ceeded in the first two levels can he be allowed to continue his education to the 'advanced' level. This in fact involves vocational training in agriculture for the men and domestic science for the women.

When it was launched, in 1961, there were about 1,000 reading rooms or centres that were established throughout Peninsular Malaysia. Years later, over a total of 8]4,000 small libraries were established and the Ministry spent about M~ 10,000 (Malaysian dollars)(l) per year on books for the adult educati~n libraries.45 However by 1970, the libraries ceased to function smoothly and most of them had to be closed down. Many reasons contributed to this failure. Some of them were:- (1) the teachers of the adult education classes were conducting the classes only for part time since they were usually engaged in

their own permanent jobs. Often the students suffer from ab~

(1) The exchange rate. between the £ and Malaysian dollars is £1 = approx. M~ 5.05. 33

sence of teachers and this naturally discouraged them from attending classes. (2) most of the reading materials had to be housed in a centre where

there was a constant on-looker over them. As a result, these reading materials are kept either in the village headmen's or penghulu's house, or the adult education teachers' houses. These locations, however were not vezy favcurable as far as the rural people are concerned, since, going to such places meant that formalities were involved, inevitably. The 'tense' situations encountered, only caused them to turn away from the libraries. (3) lack of coordination and supervision on the parts of the KEMAS

authorities. There was not enough staff and money to sustain the libraries.

In 1970, a re-organisation of the rural libraries' management was carried out. The Adult Education classes were changed to that of Community Development Education Classes or 'Kelas Pembangunan Masyara kat'. Together with these changes, the 'dormant' libraries were re activated in order to assist those people undergoing the adult educa tion classes, as well as the school children of the rural regions. The new programme was more comprehensive and accommodated various other ac tivities as mention below:-

(i) Basic literacy classes, teaching the 3R's to adults. This acti vities is confined to Sabah and Sarawak only. In West Malaysia

it is substituted by a functional literacy programme. (ii) Functional literacy classes, where the teaching of the 3R's are combined with the imparting of knowledge and skills to suit the life and livelihood of specific groups. This programme is assisted by international experts based on experiments in other countries. The curriculum includes the teaching of the elements

of health, population education, home economics etc. As a result, "libraries were established alongside these classes to provide books on the various subjects. (iii) Work-orientated classes, are categorized into several areas of interests for the rural population, such as:- a) demonstrations and instruction in the traditional rural occupation such as crop production, animal and fish rearing in order to help the participants to carry out their daily activities or occupations more efficiently. b) introduction of new vocational skills in order that the par-

- the basic knowledge to further their training in this field.

- better chances of getting employment in workshops and fac- tories. - sufficient basis to embark into business either on their ~ own/cooperatively.

c) Religious and moral education (Islam) in conjunction with community development aimed towards ~oral upliftment.46

3.4.3 KEMAS and administration of rural libraries.

(a) Premises for libraries.

Most of these libraries are housed in places listed below: (i) community or town halls. 35

(ii) village headman's house ('penghulu's' house). (iii) mosques. (iv) reading centres or rooms. (v) public centres / bazaars / shophouses.

(vi) KEMAS office rooms.

These libraries are often established in each district where there is public response and where there is quick availability for housing the libraries.

(b) Resources.

KEMAS headquarters buys library materials in bulk and then dis tributes to all the district libraries. The average collection of each small library is about 500 volumes. In some libraries where the res ponse is overwhelming, books were inc~ased from 500 to 1,500 volumes.47 Books consist of varied subject matters. Newspapers and magazines are provided besides monographs. , Books in both Bahasa Malaysia and English are provided, though

the ~~jor portion of the stock consists of Bahasa Malaysia books. The English books are meant for the school children who need these books to improve their English. In faot selection is geared towards the inte rests of the rural people and religious books play quite an important role. Materials for adult, young adults and children are provided. Non-book materials provision is however missing. (c) Finance.

The main source of finance is from the Federal Government, through the Ministry cf Agriculture. The main costs incurred in

Managing these libraries.are on:- (i) renovations to existing buildings (building new libraries will be too uneconomical). (ii) payment / allowances to library staff.

(iii) purch~sing and maintenance of library materials such as books, newspapers, magazines.

KEMAS eXFenditures are categorized into capital expenditures

(buildings and books) and operating expenditures (staff and library

materials). Please refer to Appendices 1 and 2, for detailed break down. Below is table VII showing the estimates of expenditure from 1976 to 1980.

(d) Staffing.

Most of the small rural libraries are managed by one man who actually cannot be reganded as a Library Assistant or a library clerk. The library 'helper' possesses very little knowledge on librarianship, and hence, woUld re'luire basic training in library management. Re cently KEMAS has drawn up a list of duties of the library attendants (see Appendix 3). KEMAS has sent a number of these library staff for special short courses from time to time. From 1975 to 1976, three ba sic courses in library management was organises by KEMAS and National Library of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. Each library attendant is paid 37

TABIE VI, PROJECT RURAL LIBRARlJS ( KEMAS )

Cost: (a) Capital (b) Operating (c) Total .

1976 ~ 1,368,000 ~ 191,120 ~ 1,559,120 1977 ~ 1,368,000 ~ 382,240 ~ 1,750;240 1978 ~ 1,368,000 ~ 573,360 ~ 1,941,360 1979 ~ 1,368',000 ~ 764,480 ~ 2,132,480 1980 ~ 1,368,000 ~ 955,600 ~ 2,:323,600

~ 6,840,000 ~ 2,866,800 - t9,706,800 - ,

Source MALAYSIA. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Develop- , ment. 'Connnunity Development Division. Rural Libra ries. 1980 (unpublished) 38

- 48 about ~ 100.00.

The libraries are administered by library committees at district level. The committee usually comprises the district Chief or Penghulu, the local school Headmaster and various local figures (including the lib~ry staff),

(e) Services.

There are more than 80 libraries set up by KE¥AS covering all the eleven States in Peninsular Malaysia. The criteria for setting up such a library is that there should be ~minimum population of 1,000 in each rural district before KEMAS will set ·up a library.49

The number of readers for each rural library averages from 400 to 500 people.50 The.average number of readers for 80 libraries is 23,717 people.5l

These small libraries are actually a collection of books, newspapers and magazines housed in a building. It is open usually only in the afternoons, for 3 hours only and for·5 days a week.

A lending service is· provided in as far as that readers come in to borrow one book to take back for home reading. There is no member-

ship registration of any sort. A minimal reference collection is also

maintained. Table VII shows -the 'development of rural iibrarles· organised

-by KEMAS in the various states in West Malaysia and the number of popu lation it serves. 39

TABLE VII RURAL LIBRARIES COv.MUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION ( KEMAS) (01977 ).

NO. OF PEOPLE NAME OF AREAS / OBTAINING STATES DISTRICT TYPE OF BUILDING 00 LIBRARY SERVICER .

H:RLIS Pekan Pauh, Perlis Community hall 3000 Batu 8, Kg. Jelem- Reading room pok, Perlis 2000 Padang Lati, Paya, Chahaya youth Club Perlis 2000

KEDAH Rumah Rancangan Seri Hijrah.'s 2000 . Murah, K. Kedah mosque's hall

Anak Bukit, Kota Local council 4000 Setaro Building FELDA Sg. Tiang, Community hall Pendang 8000 Kg. Kunluang, Mosque Kubang Pasu 2000 Pekan Langgar Mini complex - .

PENANG Kepala Batas Community hall 2000 . Simpang 4, Balik Community hall Pulau 2000 Kubang Semang, Coijlllluni ty hall Bukit Mertajam 5000 40

FERAl{ Padang Rengas, Village headman's hall 8000 Kuala Kangsar .

Simpang 4, Cende- 'Ugama Rakyat' school 3000 rong Balai .

Bagan Serai, Kg. youth Club Building 2000 Alor Singa

Kg. Kepayang Fair Community hall Park.

Batu 7, Tg. Tualang .. Batu Gajah 3.500

Parit .. 3000

Kg. Gajah, Hilir .. 12000 l'erak Ijok, Selama " 2000 Kg. Chulek, Gopeng .. 2000

Changkat Jering; .. 1I 2000 Larut Matang

SELANGOR Kg. Batu l7t, Kuang Late village headman's 7000 Gombak hall .

Kg. Sg. Ramal Ramal Community hall 2000 Ramal Dalam

Kg. Kalumpang Dato' Shuib Hall 6000 . . Bagan Terap, Sabak Community hall 2000 Bernam. .-

Kg. Jenjarom, Kuala Reading room 3000 Langat

Tanjong Karang KEMAS Office 4000

Sabak Bernam Malay Bazaar 6000 41

NEGRI Balairaya 162 Ge- Community hall 2000 SEMBlLAN dong Ialang Ain- - ... pangan Seremban Pejabat Penerangan, Reading Centre • 2500 K. Klawang, Jelebu - Kg. Pematang Pasir Community hall 2000

Kg. Pelangi, Kuala Community hall 2000 l'ilah

Balai Muhibbah, 'Muhibbah' Hall 2000 Tg. lpoh -

102, Jalan Besar, Shopping Building Batu Kikir (Bangunan Kedai) 2500

Kg. Bukit Rokan, Community hall 2000 Gemencheh

MALACCA Kg. Ayer Baroh, 'Ugama' School JOOO Jasin - - Kg. Sebatu, Sungei 'Jayadiri' Building JOOO Rambai - .

Belimbing Dalam, Community hall JOOO Alor Gajah.

Kg. Tangga Batu, .. 2000 Mela.lca Tengah

Kuala Sg. Baru, .. JOOO Alor Gajah

TRENGGANU Kuala Besut Bus Station 6000

. Pengkatan Berangan, Reading room (built by . Marang the village settlers) JOOO 42

Kg. Tengah, Kemasek, Community hall 3000 Kemaman

Kuala Bral'.g, Ulu Town Council Hall 3000 Trengganu

Bukit Payung, Kuala Local council 2500 Trengganu . Kuala Paka, Dungun Local council 4500 - Kg. Pasir Akar, Besut Reading room, 'Sendi 3000 - ri' Building - Seberang Takir 'Pengkalan Motor' 6000 Community hall

PAHANG Pusat Perkhidmatan 'People's Represen- 1500 Rakyat, Jerantut tative'.Office - Kg. Ulu Dong, Raub Youth Club House 1500

Kg. Karak, Bentong Youth Society's Club 1500 Kg. Pulau Tawar, Community hall 2000 Jerantut

Kg. Kuala Tembeling Welfare Home 4000 - Kg. Marhum, Pekan Youth Office 2500 Pantai Sg. Karang Youth Centre 2000 Beserah

Kg. Ubai, Kuantan Community hall 2000 - FELDA, Sg. Tekam Community hall 6000 utara.

KELANTAN ICedai Ketereh, Pangkai Factory House or 2500 Kelong, Kota Bharu 'Rumah GUdang' 43

Kg. Tendong, Pesir Ma Community Hall 4000

Kg. Rantau Panjang, Local Council Hall 4.500 Pasir Mas

Cherang Ruku, Semerak Youth Club Building 4000 Pasir Putih

Kg. Pek Panyit, Factory House 2000 Machang

Kg. Periol, Chebang Community Hall 2000 Empa t, Tumpa t

JOHORE Kg. Bagan Mk(2), Batu Penghulu's Hall 17.500 Pa.hat -

Pekan pt. Sulong, KEMAS Centre 12.500 Batu Pahat

4.5, Bandar Rengit Shorthand Institure 1.5000 Malaysia

Pe jaba t KEMAS, Daerah 'KEMAS ' Office 23000 Batu Pahat -

Kg. Perit Bakar Te- Youth Centre 3000 ngah,Muar

Kg. Sri Menanti, Muar Community Hall 2.500

. Simpang Lima, Pekan Community Hall 2000 Bt. Gambir . '

Pekan Batu 28, Lenga 'Padang Merah' Hall 2000 Muar .- - Majlis Tempatan 'Ngah Bazaar' Tangk:ak - - Pejabat KEMAS, Kota 'KEMAS' Office 12.500 Tinggi - - - -

FELDA Bukit Besar Community Hall 2000 -- 44

Balairaya Majlis Tem- Ccmmunity Hall .5.500 patan, Simpang Rengam, Kluang

Pejabat KEMAS Segamat 'KEMAS' Office 12.500

Pejabat KEMAS, Mer- .. 9.500 sing Pe jabat KEMAS, Pcn- .. - tian - .

SOURCE MALAYSIA. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Community Development Division. Report on Rural Libra. ries. 1977 45

(f) Problems.

(i) The main pressing proble~ is the inadequate supply of books. Most of the books stock in the libraries are often all read by the local inhabitants of the community. Additional books are needed for the libraries. (ii) Under the Third Malaysia Plan, the amount allocated to carry out the rural libraries' activities is approximately M% 684,000.52 This amount is far-·from adequate since there are about 80 rural libraries which require reviewing. KEMAS has attempted to over

come its financial problems by asking for donations from voluntary bodies and from international organizations. (iii) The difficulty in acquiring suitable centres as libraries, is yet another problem. Financial inadequacies have restricted the possibilities of extending or renovating the libraries (let alone erecting new functional library buildings), purchasing library furniture and equipment and buying reading materials for the children.

(iv) The lack of training in- mar~ement of rural libraries used to

be a problem but fortunately, more library assistants or atten~ dants are attending training courses or are given advise on how to run such libraries by officers (professional librarians) from the National Library of Malaysia.

KEMAS will be handing over its responsibility to the state Public Library Corporations eventually. The takeove-c is approximated to take place in about ten to fifteen years' time. 46

3.5 Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA).

The Federal Land Development Authority - FELDA (as part of the Ministry of Land and Regional Development) is responsible for the de velopment of new settlements, through the reclamation of jungle ter rhory.53 In addition to the establishment of physical facilities, the responsibility also includes a duty to develop an institutional network conducive to both the econcmic and social well-being of the settlers. FELDA is thus responsible for providing general services, which will enable the settlers to attain an adequate income and have access to schools and other conveniences of modern life, under which fall the provision of library services.

The provision of library services is obtainable at two-level: (a) mobile library service. (b) reading room (Bilik Bacaan Rancangan BBR)

(a) Mobile library service.

The mobile library service reaches cut to settlers in various land development schemes throughout West Malaysia. At present there are three mobile libraries serving the three major land schemes in the North, South and South Eastern Zones'. The mobile library service ope rates from three main headquarters.54 1) The Federal Headquarter in Kuala Lumpur (Northern Zone) 2) Th: Johore Bahru Headquarter (South-eastern Zone) 3) The Jengka Headquarter (South-eastern Zone) 47

These 3 headquarters are responsible for providing library services to almost 86 schemes in West Malaysia. The community of the schemes are mainly rural settlers selected from different regions of the various states in West Malaysia. Most of them are rural Malays, with minimum educational backgrcund but with rich agricultural knowledge. The provision of library services in these areas cater mainly for the type-of people, th~ir attitudes and reading capabilities.

(i) Collection. The mobile library vans which is of the Volkswagen type, are

provided by the Federal Government. Each van can accomodate about 5,000 to 6,000 books and other printed materials.55 The books prcvided are mainly in the national language as the demand received from the rural Malay settlers are for books in 'Bahasa Malaysia'. About 90% of the books are in Bahasa Malaysia. Most of the books consists of general subjects such as on general subjects such as on general knowledge, history, geography;,religion etc. Fiction books or paperback novels are provided as well. The collection caters for the young especially the school-going age

children ar~ the adult settlers.

(ii) Staffing. / The mobile library dri'le}, undertakes. the responsibility of carrying out the services to the settlers. Part cf his duty is to issue books for loan, to register members and maintain-the van. The staff are usually given some background training before they are i - allowed to serve in the land development schemes. 48

(iii) Services. Each mobile covers a distinct region and visits three locations at each land development scheme - the local FELDA school, the FELDA office and the compound or the district head's house. The routing for each mobile library unit takes a period of one month for each zone or 'wilayah'. This means in a week a unit can cover three schemes and it stops for t hour at each location.56 The only service provided is only lending of books.

On each circulation of stock of the mobile, which starts off at

abo~t 4,000 to 5,000 books, it becomes progressively depleted and impoverished, as there is often inade~uate supply of books.57 This is due mainly to the delay in the returning of library books. The period of loan is one month - depending on the duration of the vi.- sits.

(b) Reading room.

In a.number of settlements, a Reading Room or 'Bilik Bacaan Ran- cangan' (BBR) has been established to provide a more permanent facili- ty. Pilot projects of such nature are carried out in the schemes, because it is hoped that in the future 'static' libraries will replace the mobile libraries.

(i) Premises. The reading rooms are situated in the community centre where the settlers usually meet to attend social and cultural activities such as community meetings, Kindergarten classes, exhibitions etc. 47

These J headq~ers are responsible for providing library services to almost 86 schemes in West Malaysia. The ccmmunity of the schemes are mainly rural settlers selected from different regions of the various states in West Malaysia. Most of them are rural Malays, with minimum educational background but with rich agricultural knowledge. The provision of library services in these areas cater mainly for the type of people, their attitudes and reading capabilities.

(i) Collection. The mobile library vans which is of the Volkswagen type, are provided by the Federal Government. Each van can accomodite about 5,000 to 6,000 books and other printed materials.55 The books provided are mainly in the national language as the demand received from the rural Malay settlers are for books in 'Bahasa Malaysia'. About 90% of the books are in Bahasa Malaysia. Most of the books consists of general subjects such as on general subjects such as on general knowledge, history, geography,ireligion etc. Fiction books or paperback novels are provided as well. The collection caters for the young especially the school-going age

children ar~ the adult settlers.

(ii) Staffing.

The mobile library driver undertakes the responsibility of carrying out the services to the settlers. Part cf his duty is to issue books for loan, to register members and maintain the van. The staff are usually given some background training before they are allowed to serve in the land development schemes. 48

On each circulation of stock of the mobile, which starts off at about 4,000 to 5,000 books, it becomes progressively depleted and impoverished, as there is often inadequate supply of books.57 This is due mainly to the delay in the returning of library books. The period of loan is one month - depending on the duration of the visits.

(b) Reading room.

In a, number of settlements, a Reading Room or 'Bilik Bacaan Ran- cangan' (BBR) has been established to provide a more permanent facili- ty. Pilot projects of such nature are carried out in the schemes, because it is hoped that in the future 'static' libraries will replace the mobile libraries.

The BBR serves as an ideal meeting place for the community to ex change their ideas or grievances with the authorities concerned. On the other hand, adult settlers, teenagers and children use the room for doing recreational reading or for aC(J.uiring general know ledge from the various books available.

(ii) Collection. The materials selected for these reading rooms are mainly those

on subjects ~lating to the social and economic aspects of the sett lers, giving particular allocation of books for the woman population of the community as well, for instance books on cookery, handicrafts, child-care, tailor ete. The materials support the local community classes too.

(iii) Staffing. Each BBR is organised by a" local committee which manages the day to day running of a loan service from the stock of the reading room. The committee consists "of ""a chairman, secretary,· and treasu rer who are selected from the settlers. The advisor is often an officer from the FELDA scheme. The committee receives guidance from the Development Division of the Head(J.uarters. All the rules and regulations are set by this committee too.

(iv) The BBR provides mainly lending facilities such as loan of

books, and premises for holding meetings or any sort of communal activities. The services are often limited to those settlements where there is a desire for it, suitable facilities and where the settlement population is willing to help with the general adminis- 50

tration of the service.

General Problems of FELDA's libraries.

1) Lack of professional expertise. Those involved in the scheme do not have adequate knowledge on how to carry out an efficient library service. The reading rooms are often managed by a voluntary . . member of the community and consequently. . the. common problem is. faced by the volunteer, that of giving full devotion to his own work or to the library. More often than not the library suffers from not having a full-time and dedicated 'supervisor'.

2) Duplication of services for example in Kedah, a number of schools are receiving service from both the Kedah state Mobile Library (which provides 50 books exchanged every two weeks) and the FELDA Mobile.

3) Selection of relevant materials. Majority of the population in the schemes are either illiterates or near literates. Some school textbooks are included mainly for school loans, but though the reading

level of these is suiten to the literacy level of the population, the subject content is of no particular interest to them. The general interest of the people seem to be for 'easy readers', books which are especially designed for the 'reluctant' readers. At the moment Malaysia suffers from an inadequate provision of books for the semi- literates, as there are no willing writers as yet.

In practice due to the poor selection of books, many schools make 51

little use of the scheme. A Felda Officer claims that finance is not the msin worry but the difficulty in acquiring relevant materi

als in the national language, poses as the ove~riding problem.

4) Lack of cooperation from the settlers. The local community is still not aware of the novelty of the libraries. There are instances when the libraries cease to serve as reading centres but merely serve as meeting places for general discussions. Some of the sett

lers are in the habit of mak~ng themselves owners of books they have borrowed, which tends to reflect their lack of civic consciousness.

Future plans.

Similarly to the KEMAS rural libraries, the future management of the FELDA libraries will be gradually taken over by the state public libraries. This is indicated in Hedwig Anuar's 'Blueprint to the Pub lic Library Development in West Malaysia'. However at present, one can only visualize a concurrent contributions of library services by KEMAS, FELDA and the Public Libraries. .52

Publi c Library Serv ices to Ru ra I Area"s in 4 West Malaysia

4.1 Brief history of public libraries.

Public libraries have existed in penins~lar Malaysia for over 100 years. The oldest library, the Penang Library, was established in 1817, the Malacca Library in 1881 and the Ipoh Library in 1931, all being subscription libraries •.5 8 Public subcription libraries were the first type of libraries to exist before the establishment of university, college or special libraries. However, public library develop-

ment was lagging far behind from the other libraries, until very re cently. In 19.5.5, the Malayan Public Library Association (MPLA) wa.s formed. MPLA, a non-profit making limited company, has as its main objective, to promote education "and culture by establishing public"lib raries in the towns and villages of Malaya. By 19.57, it had established

231 libra~es and had a total collection of approximately 1.50,000 vo lumes •.59 MPLA has declined in importance and now exists to provide

very rudimentary services only. Private iniative and philanthropy have contributed immensely in the development of public libraries in the past, especially in the period before independence. The present deve- 53

lopment of public lib~ries is very much a growing concern of the. go vernment and this is indeed fortunate if public library services are to remain viable.

The earliest plan for public lib~ se~ices on a national scale was drawn up in 1956 by the Malayan Library Group (MLG). However its memorandum on public library service in the Federation of Malaya received little official reaction. Nearly a decade later, in a conference on public lib~ries in national development sponsored by Persatu an Perpustakaan Malaysia (FPM) or Library Association of Malaysia, it was resolved that a bluepript on public lib~development in Ma~aysia . - ~ '.'. . . .' .. " ... i··."· -. - ~. • . .'. : should be prepared. Not long after this, an invitation was made to

Hedwig Anuar, Director of the National Library of Singapore to pre~ the blueprint. This project', was a combined effort of the Malaysian National Commission for Unesco and Asia Foundation, which provided the financial assistance. The 'Blueprint for public library development L~ Malaysia', was published in 1968, after submission to the National Lib- rary Committee and acceptance by the government as the basis of public lib~ planning and development.

The Blueprint is the most comprehensive survey on public library services in Malaysia. A summary of the main recommendations of the Blueprint is seen in Appendix. 4

4.1.1 Legislative provisions.

In the period prior to. independence, there was no legislative provision for public library services apart from the Town Boards (Amendment) Ordinance, 1954, section 2(J)(h) of which provided for the institution and maintenance of public libraries.60 With independance in 19.57, Malaysia became a federal state. In defining the legislative competence of the federal and state governments, the constitution spe- cified that the subject of libraries was a federal matter and subsumed it under the heading 'Education' in the federal list in the 9th schedule to the Federal Constitution. It was only in 1968 that the Incorporation (state Legislatures Competency) (Amendments) Order, also referred to as Pu 296 of 1968, conferred on state legislatures the authority to make laws in respect of public libraries. The subject of public libraries now became a state matter.

While states now had the power to legislate on public libraries, they we~ under no legal obligation to do so. This fact seemed to be the cause for the slow development in public libraries. Many states lacked the financial resources to organize state public library networks and consequently they felt no necessity to enact public library legislation. In spite of financial limitations, most states in Peninsular Malaysia have passed public library corporation enactments. These are the-states of Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Malacca, Perlis,Kela.~tan,

Trengganu, Pahang and Negri sembilan.61 - The remaining states in Penin- sular Malaysia are expecte~·to adopt similar.legislation in the near future.

4.1.2 state Public Library Corporations •

.' fA state Public Library Corporation duly incorporated by or under a state enactment is deemed to be a body corporate throughout the

• 55

Federation, as if the enactment creating such body corporate had been enacted by Parliament!62

'A body corporate' is legally defined 'as a body of persons ha-. ving in law an existence and rights and duties distinct from those of the individual persons, who from time to time form it. It has perpe-. tual succession, a name and a common seal.'

A state Public Library Corporation being legal entity, may sue or be sued in its corporate name. It is liable for criminal offences though not liable in respect of offences punishable only corporally.

4.1.3 National Libra;r. :

The passing of the National Library Act 1972 gave a significant boost for public library development, since one of the functions of the National Library was to promote a nationwide system of free public lib-' raries and library services in Malaysia.63 With the appointment of a professional librarian'oM Deputy Director in the National Library, a / new impetus was brought in. Draft legislation was revised and made available to all states both in English and Malay. To promote public library', visits were made by the Deputy Director to each of the states for'discussions with chief ministers, state secretaries, state legal

advisers and other officials. At the same time financial estimates were also prepared for consideration.

Today public library services are provided in nearly all states of Malaysia. However, much of this provision is still associated with urban ce~trel>. The federal capital, Kuala Lumpur as well as the state capitals, Penang, Ipoh, Johore Bahru, Kuantan, Kangar, Alor Setar, Malacca, Seremban and Kota Bharu all have public library services. Some of the smaller towns, do have services and more towns in the rural

areas are' receiving public library services as well, as a grow~ l>tate wide network of public library services is being developed.' Selangor and Kedah'are much ahead of the other states in terms of public libra ry provision. ' Mobile l>ervices to rural areal> are c=ently being ope rated in the states of Selangor, Kedah, Malacca and Johore. This is an aspect of public library service receiving growing emphasis in line with the government's new economic policy.

Looking at overall provision, the uneveness of 'service is readi

ly apparent. In peninsular Malaysia, the state of Selangor has the most developed network of public libraries followed by the state of Kedah. In most of the others, despite legislation for public libraries,

the allocation is still modest. In general terms, however there has been considerable improvement since the Blueprint was first published in 1968. If the enthusiasm amongst the various state public library corporations' authorities, should persist, then the future of public

library services would be fairlY bright before the end of this century.

4.2 Selangor Public Library Services to:·Rural Areas.

4.2.1 Brief history of Selangor Public Library Corporation.

There were only four pUblic libraries in Selangor, three of which 57 were situated in Kuala Lumpur, until recently. They were the Kuala

Lumpur Book Club in Kuala Lumpur, and the Gurney Memorial Library in Klang, both subscription libraries, the British Council Library and the Lincoln Cultural Center, both of which were strictly information libraries. In 1969, the Selangor Public Library Corporation took over the Kuala Lumpur Book Club when it was established under the Selangor Public Library Corporation Enactment, 1968.64 In 1974, it took over the Gurney Memorial Library as a.Branch Library.

4.2.2 Selangor Public Library - Functions.

Selangor Public Library undertakes to fulfil these functions listed below :-

1) to establish and administer a Central library, Branch Lib- raries, and Mobile Libraries for the whole of Selangor. 2) to provide reference services as well as free loan services to adult and children. 3) to build up a basic collection on all subjects of interests. 4) to satisfy the needs of the people by acquiring books and other forms of reading materials for education, information and recreation. 5) to have collections on the general affairs of the state of Selangor.

Besides these functions, it is al~o part of the policy of Selangor Public Library to establish a branch library in every district and from that point, radiate mobile library services to the outlying areas. Mobile library services are organized from the branch libraries. 58

4.2.) Selangor Public Library - rural library services.

The Selangor Public Library Corporation's headquarters is in Kuala Lumpur at the present moment. However it will be shifting its

headquarters to Shah Alam in the very near future, when the new building, is completed. Kuala Lumpur is now under the Federal State Territory

and the National Library of Malaysia is designated the responsibility

to serve the Federal State Territory ~hilst the Selangor Public Library

Corporation, the State of Selangor. This change, has resulted in some confusion amongst the readers who are staying outside the Federal terri-

tory and who wish to be members of the Public Library Section of the National Library, but were turned down as members.

The rural areas in Selangor are'being served by both branch and mobile libraries. The mobile library units are being operated from' yarious branch libraries in Kelang, Kajang, Kuala Langat, Sabak Bernam, Banting and Sepang. These branch libraries are situated in various types of premises' with varying sizes of library collections and nUmber of staff.

4.2.4 Orgaw,isation' of rural library services •.

(a) Brief history. The mobile' library services of the Selangor Public Library Cor-

poration started in 1972, after the Public Libraries Enactment 1968,

.,~. which gave the Library the authority to establish, manage and organize the mobile library and the various branches in all areas in the state of Selangor. This service was previously undertaken by the State 59

Secreteriat of Selangor.

At, the beginning of 1973 two'Volkswagen'vans were used for'the

mobile library service. The capacity of the van was approximately

1,200 volumes of medium size books.66 However due to financial res-

traints encountered, these vans had to be substituted'by a 'Mercedez Po Benz' mini bus whose capacity was about ?200 volumes of books. When

the services were expanded'further, stronger and better vehicles were

acquired., These. we.:re., the trailer type. By 1978, Selangor Public Lib- , 6 rary mobile units were serving more than 94 places. 7 These mobile library units are slowly being increased.

On the other hand, branch libraries ,which are serving the rural

areas" direct~have only been established in recent years. However

the branch library in Kla~ is'a takeover from the Gurney Memorial Library.

(b) Premises/TyPes of mobile library unit.

The branch libraries that serve the rural areas are often situated

in old buildings which require renovation. The Banting and Kuala Kubu

Bharu Branch libraries ,are provided with premises by the District

Offices. Most of the buildings are not tailored to cope with the inc-

reasing number in memberehip. services and books. The Kajang branch

library is situated above a shopping arcade and this location: is very

:i,nconvenient for the readers, since they are constantly disturbed by

the noise below.

The mobile library units are of 2 types, the mini buses and trailers. 60

The mini buses can afford to carry about 3,000 books whilst the trailers can accomodate more than 6,000 volumes of materials.68

(c) Collection. Children's book occupy the main section of the collection ca=ied in the mobile units. , Out of the 6,000 volumes of materials in a trai- 'ler, about -60% to 7r:J%> of them are children's Dooks.69 Most of them, approximately 9:$, are in the national language.70 The head'luarters at Kuala Lumpur supplies magazines, locally published, most of which carrying Islamic thoughts in them. There a~ other magazines as well,

for light reading. The selection and aC'luisition of books depends on the statistics taken on'the reading pattern or interests of the users.

(d) Finance. At its onset, the Selangor Public Library Corporation received an (2) , initial grant of M% 35,000 from the Federal government as well as some financial aid from institutions and organisations. The state Govern- ment also gave an annual grant. Attempts are being made to obtain financial assistance from the Town Councils for maintenance of the library premises within their respective boundaries.

The budget for the mobile library .is obtained from two allocations' of funds, one is a special allocation of funds for mobile library main-'

tenance and the other is drawn out from the 'Development Expenditure' meant'for the whole library system.

(2) The exchange rate between the £ and Malaysian dollars is £1 = approx. M~ 5.05. 61

In 1975, the mobile. library maintenance funds stood at ~ 24,600.71 In 1979, the budget allocated for Se1angor Public Library was

~ 900,000 and. the mobile library unit octained its share from this amount, as wel1.72

(e) staff. The state Librarian is responsible for the organisation, manage ment and staffing of the corporation. The branch libraries of K1ang and Kajang are headed by professional-librarians and they find diffi culty in coping with the increasing provision of services. The smaller branch libraries at Banting, Kua1a Kubu Bharu, Sepang, Sabak Bernam and

Kuala Se1angor are presently being managed b~ non-professionals recei ving direct supervision from the qualified librarians at the headqua ters. Each mobile unit is run by a Library Assistant who drives the vehicle and maintains it himself. The duties of the Library Assistant is listed below :- (1) to collect information on the number of borrowers for each

place, the total amount of mileage in one month, and the to tal amount of new registered membership in one month. (2) to maintain a record of the various proposals or suggestions from the' users. (J) to update the collection of the mobile unit, and weeding those that are not used. (4) to check the vehicle every month. (5) to· car.ry out other duties as directed by the chief 1ibrarian.7J

At the moment there are three staff who are carrying out these ser vices and they are not professionally qualified. 62

(f) Services '. In the branch libraries basic services are carried out for both adults and children in the region, such as lending and reference ser vices. However in the bigger branch libraries such as Kajang, and

Kelang, extension activities.such as story telling, art contest and concerts are conducted by the Public Library. In Kajang, when activi ties are held, children from homes situated as far as 5 or 10 miles away take the initiative to trav~l by bus to participate .in the activi ties. The location of the branch libraries have not discouraged majo rity of those" children from the remote areas to join in. But for those children who cannot afford the journey to the branch libraries, mobile library units are introduced, to serve not only the children but the older generation as well.

The mobile library services are very much iimited to either lend ing or reference services. However no attempts as yet, have been made by Selangor Public Library to stage story telling sessions, puppet shows etc., for attracting the children towards the 'recreational aspects' of books, during the mobile library visits.

The mobile library route schedule is usually worked out by the librarian. Before the stops are determined, a general survey is car ried out on the areas to be served. Various factors are observed du ring the feasibility study such as; (i) the composition of the population. (H) literacy level. (Hi) the reading pattern or interests. (iv) the place to stall the mobile library unit (where most accessible by the community). Such feasibility study is carried out to ensure that the services pro vided will be utilized. However there are times, when the study not properly carried out, results in poor response from the people.

Scmetimes letters are received from the village headman or 'penghulu', or a representative of the community, requesting for a library service. More cften than not, such requests are fulfilled.

(i) Mobile library route schedule.

The mini buses are engaged four days in a week (except Thursday and Saturday) to visit at least three places in a day, spending abou~ one and a hair hours in each stop.74 The trailers, on the other hand, visit five places in a fortnight, stopping at one place for two days and two nights. In 1975, there were 27 service points in all six dis tricts of Selangor. The six districts are Klang, Kuala Langat, Kuala

Selangor, Sabak Bernam, Ulu Langat and Ulu Selangor.

(ii) Membership.

Most of those who register as members are school children attending the nearby schools. Adult users of the mobile libraries consist of teachers, policemen, housewives of government servants, nurses and the literate, retired elderly people. Most of the young adult members of the libraries are achool drop-outs. (iii) Reading habits.

The reading habit of the readers can be categorized into three age groups, children, teenagers and adults. Most children read all kind of children's books, available in the mobile units. Picture books seem to captivate the attention of the children immensely, as the books are brightly coloured and attractive. Enid Blyton's bcoks, available in English as well as in the translated version in Bahasa Malaysia are very popular and. are widely borrowed by the children. Animal stories, fairy tales and adventures or explorations type of stories, are e~ually popular.

The teenagers are fond of romantic novels or light fiction, especially locally published paperback Malay novels. The school-going teenage~, on the other hand, often borrow the textbooks on various school subjects like history, geography, arts, literature etc.

(g) Problems. 'Since 1972 to 1978, the Selangor Public Library has had to close down about eight places due to the poor response', as disclosed by the Head of Mobile Library Unit of the Selangor Public Library.75 She added by mentioning in disheartenment that the rate of borrowing too is slowly declining since 1977. She blames this show of deprivation to lack of books, poor publicity on the services and the complacent attitudes of tpe rural people.

other problems are common ones like space, as in the case of limited and inco~venient spaces obtained for the branch libraries and the other obvious problem is shortage of staff. However more staff means more money and insufficient funds seem to be the biggest constraint' in producing a good quality rural library service.

Ch) Future plans. The Selangor Public Library Corporation plans to set up branches in eve~ district of Selangor.76 Branch libraries will be set up in

Petaling and Gombak. In extending services to rural areas, the Corpo- ration plans to have a mobile librar,y service for each district and for each mobile unit to be stationed at the Branch Library of that district under the direct responsibility of the respective Branch Librarian.

The 'bulk loan' facilities will be expanded to cover remote areas not serviced by mobile libraries. The extension activities will be provideq also at mobile stops and not only at the branch libraries. The provision of audio-visual materials will be included amongst the pro-' vision of librar,y materials to the rural areas. An intensive and extensive campaign will be carried out to inculcate reading consciousness amongst the rural communities.

4.) Kedah Public Library Services to Rural Areas.

4.).1 Brief history of Kedah Public Library Corporation.

The public librar,y services in Kedah began with the establishment of a subscription librar,y in Alor Setar in 1961 under the control of the Alor Setar Town Council.77 In 1972 the Kedah Public Library Corporation 66

Enactment (7 Years Enactment) was passed and soon after, the Kedah Public Library Corporation was established in 1974. It took over the library in Alor Setar in the same year and in 1975, ·it took control over the Public Library in Sungei Petani.

4.3.2 Kedah Public Library - Functions.

The Library's functions are basically similar to those of the Selangor Public Library's functions (refer to section 4.2.2 of this chapter). The main emphasis of the state Library is to extend its ser vices to the outlying rural areas by increasing its mobile library units and establishing more branch libraries in the rural areas.

4.3.3 Kedah Public Library - rural library services.

The rural areas in Kedah are slowly being ·served by both mobile library units and branch libraries. The branch libraries are being ope rated from the main library at Alor Setar. Photograph (a) gives a fror. tal view of the main library. The branch libraries are situated at Sungai Petani, Kuala Nerang, Kulim and Yen. Similarly to the Selangor Public library's case, most of the branch libraries are takeovers from old buildings and needed to be renovated. There are three mobile lib rary units serving the North, Central and South Zones of Kedah. (see map of Kedah in Appendix 6 ) 67

Photograph (a) Kedah Public Library Corporati on ' s headquarters at Alor star.

4 .) .4 Organisation of rural library services .

(a) Brief history. The first branch library in Kedah was started in Sungei Petani

in 1977, then in 1978 , anot her branch was established at Kuala Nerang , f ollowed by another one at Kulim in 1979 and in 1980 (recently) at yen. 78 The corporati on i s slowl y opening up more branches for the users i n the rural areas .

The Mobile Library Unit of t he Kedah Public Library Corporati on

first started its services on 29th June 1977 and i t began by serving

the northern zone of Kedah . In the next year , 1978 two mobile library

units were added on t o serve the Central and Southern Zones of Kadah .

The mobile libraries serve not only the school .children but also people 68 from various age levels and walks of life .

(b) Premises/Types of mobile l i brary unit.

The Sungei Petani Branch has a floor area of 2,068 square feet .79

Si nce space is rather limited, the office of the librarian has to be detached from the central library and is situated about a mile away. Photographs (b) and (c) show the Sungei Petani Branch Library. The shelf space is also limited and even by increasing stack heights , onl y a few additional volumes can be accommodoteQ. Situation is further agg- ravated during the examination seasons , there are readers seated on the floors and standing up as well.

The mobile. library units come in the shapes of vans . '11ercedes Benz ' (0309D/ 35) which costs about 11% 35 ,000 each, 80 see model in photograph (d) . A similar type of van is serving some areas in Selangor as well.

Pnotograph (b) View of the Sungei Petani branch library Photograph (c) Vie\; of the Sungei Petani Branch library

Phot ograph (d) A model of a mobile van ' Mercedes Benz ' ( 0300 I 35 ) 70

(c) Collection. The main provision of books in the branch and mobile libraries are in the four main languages , Malay , English , Chinese and Tamil . The main proportion of books however is in the Malay language since most of the rural readers are fluent in the National language. Books for various age- levels - the adults, young people and children are available too . The library also receives bulk donations from other organisations , for example frcm the Briti sh Council in London .

The total collection of the Kedah Public Library incl usive of the branches and the mobile l i brary unit is 96 ,617 volumes (see Table VII I) The collection at the Alor Setar main library is divided into adults and children' s book (see photograph (e)) , and the total number is

22 , 265 volumes .

(d) Finance .

The main sources of finance are from the Federal and State Govern- ment . A capital grant of M~ 98 ,000 was given by the Federal Government in 1974 .81 In 1977 , the Kedah Public Library Corporation received a grant of M~ 100 ,000 from the Federal Government, as a result of the sup port given by the National Library. 82 This grant enabled the Corpora- tion to purchase two mobile library vans for the Central and Southern zones . Out of this , an a l locati on of M~ 20 ,000 was spent on purchasing books and magazines .83 Donations are also received from voluntary organisations .

(e) Staff.

There are four qualified staff serving the Kedah Public Library 71

TABLE VIII COLLECTI ON OF BOOKS IN BRANCH I MOBILE LIBRARIES IN KEDAH PUBLIC LIBRARY.

I BRANCH LIBRARIES Volwnes

1 Sungei Petani 17 ,144 2 Kuala Nerang 8,552 3 Kulim 7,000 4 Yan 6 , 299 5 Langkawi }t 1 ,352

Total 40,347

II MOBILE LIBRARY UNITS. Volwnes

1 Northern zone ' s van 14, 203 2 Central zone ' s van 9,999 3 Southern zone ' s van 9,803

Total 34,005

Total collection 40,347 + 34 ,005 = 74 , 352 volwnes

}t (The branch library at Langkawi is still not officially opened . )

Source HASNA, Hj. Taha. Personal correspondence on 29 . 7. 80 . 72

Photograph (e) Library collection at the Alow star Public Library

Photograph (f) . Librazy Assistant at the counter at the Sungei Fetani Branch library . 73

Corporation at the present moment. 84 Altogether there are twenty- eight number of staff , three of whom are mobile library van divers and each branch library has a trained library assistant to manage it. Photo graph (f), shows a library assistant doing a counter duty at the Sungei

Petani Branch Library .

(f) Services . The main services provided to the readers are lending and refe rence services . I nterlibrary- Ioan is al so available for anyone i nte rested , within the branch libraries or from other libraries in Malaysia. The Corpor ation is still planning pr ogrammes like storytelling, for the children, recreational activities like Drama and Acti ng, Painting etc . for both the young and old. However,the main setbacks in produci ng such activities are lack of space and staff to conduct these activit i es.

Photographs (g) and (h) , show the reading or reference areas of two of the branch libraries.

I n the ceginning, mobile library servi ces were mainly provided to the schools . Later on , when the services were better devel oped , others were able to enjoy t he services too . The mobile stoFs extended to com munity centres, government offi ces and departments and the Town Councils .

'Bulk loan' system is a special servi ce provided by the mobile libraries, in which a stated number of books and materials i s avai - lable for loan, to those schools requesting such services . Individual loans are also availabl e for teachers and the pupil. All these ser vices are not charged by the libraries . 74

Photograph (g)

Photograph (h)

Photographs above show reading or r eference areas of two branch libraries in Kedah 75

(i) Membership. Membership includes mainly school children from the nearby' schools. The other users being teachers, office clerks, retired government servants, nurses and housewives. The response received so far is indicative of the community's interest in the provision of library services. The Kedah Public Library Corporation will try to respond to any requests made by schools and the village headmen to have such services.

(ii) Reading habits. The reading habits of the rural readers of Kedah state is somewhat similar to those in the Selangor state (see section 4.2.4 (f) (iii) in the same chapter)

(g) Problems. The Kedah Public Library's rural library services have only been introduced recently. Consequently she is facing some teething problems in the phase of' development. Her counterpart, the Selangor Public Lib-

'. rary started the mobile library services in 1972 whilst Kedah only obtained a mobile library van in 1977. She is facing the similar difficulties that the latter library was encountering. The chief librarian ·often consults with the National Library for any kind of problems, be it administrative or professional problems.

The fundamental problems faced are shortage of staff, lack of space and the availability of funds to carry out the various services efficiently. However before, these services can be appreciated the rural people must be encouraged and made to realize the importance of 76 reading in gaining information on all aspects of life. Another reason for the lack of realisation of the existence of rural library services, is because of inadequate publicity that is provided by the corporation, However plans are being drawn up to increase public awareness one positive move by the corporation is engaging Library Assistants to districts to register students. as members.

(h) F

The corporation plans to open up branches in all the districts in Kedah state. Branch libraries in Jitra, Langkawi, Baling, Bandar Baru and Pendang will be opened soon, as positive plans are being car 86 ~ied out at the moment. By 1981, the library will purchase another mobile library unit - which is a 'trailer', similar to one of Selangor's mobile library unit. Various extension activities for children will be provided soon, as the Corporation will be increasing the number of her staff to cater for such services, next year. 77

Planning Rura I Library Services: 5 Recommendations

5.1 Problems: Organisation of rural libraries.

Rural library services in West Malaysia are ca=ied out by various organisations, of which the significant ones are FELDA, Ministry of Ag riculture and Rural Development and the State Public Library Corpora tion. These organisations have realised the need for library services in the rural areas and taken the initiative to undertake such a service. Unfortunately, no concerted attempt has been made at coordinating and linking these services to a central library organisation, as yet. It is imperative, that the responsibility should be taken over by one single organisation as quickly as possible to avoid any further dupli cation of resources in terms of manpower and funds to carry out these services.

The State Public Library COrPorations have embarked on rural lib rary services only in recent years. Consequently, .the services provided are still in its premature stage of development. However it is hoped that there will be one single body responsible for all the rural libra ries and that body would be none other than the State Public Library Corporation. All the other libraries under FELDA, KEMAS and the other 78 voluntary organisations would be progressively absorbed into the appro priate state Library service under the responsibility of the state Pub lic Library Corporations. However at this stage, the State Libraries and the Library Corporations are concentrating on the improvement and con

solidation of services at the urban and district centres with an in creasing attempts at reaching out to the rural population. These at tempts, hc.wever, are carried out on a limited scale due to lack of funds, the problem of distances and poor communication network,(especially so in the case of East Malaysia).

5.2 Recommendations.

(a) Organisation.

The rural population is, by and large, best served by static ser vice points especially in larger states. It is strongly recommended that the various organisations currently involved with rural libraries would continue to support the Library Authority after the take over in terms of premises and Library equipment. The success of the· rural lib rary development programme calls for cooperative and concerted effort on the part of all concerned. It requires a pooling of all available

resourCes. It is also suggested that there be representatives from the various bodies, the National Library, the State Government and com mittee leaders in the Committee of the Library Authority, so as to en sure maximum cooperation, support and planning of library services throughout the State. 79

(b) Premises. The Librar,y Authority should utilise all existing premises where suitable such as community centres, agricultural centres, youth clubs, village halls, reading rooms and shophouses. steps should also be ta ken to explore the possibility of using school libraries in the more remote areas.

( c ) Libraxy Collections. The shortage of suitable reading materials has always been a problem in meeting the reading needs of the rural population. Since the countr,y's independence in 1957, the local book industry has grown ra

pidly and an average of 600 titles being published ever,y year, mainly

educational books and textbooks. 87 Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, has started to expand its publication from school textbools to general books in the national language to cater for the needs of the increasing number of school leavers educated mainly in Bahasa Malaysia.

The readi~.g needs of the rural readers are not as sophisticated - as those in the urban areas in terms of language and interest levels. 88 Most of the rural literates consist of school children, government --.-, officers and adults who have benef~ted from attending adult education classes in the national language. The provision of books in such areas would require 'easy readers' or junior books, which are well-illustrated and colourful including books for the adults written in simple language.

The rural librar,y should also provide information of all kinds

supplied by various Government agencies in the form of pamplets, posters, newspapers, periodicals, news bulletin, maps, charts etc. VisUal 80 presentation of various forms of information could be displayed on no tice boards or on the walls of the library. The types of information' that would be available in the library are as follows:- (i) career or employment opportunities. (ii) courses for school leavers.

(iii) family planning. (iv) agricultural know-how. (v) technical background. (vi) legal and consumer" matters. (vii) housing planning (viii) leisure opportunities. (ix) youth activities.

The provision of such information would help immensely all those who are not certain of Where and to whom to go for advice and assistance relating to the above matters. The librarian can serve as a mediator and direct the inquirer to the correct place to cbtain the required information.

An initial collection of 1000 volumes of books in bahasa Malaysia for each library centre is recommended. 89 This stock should be carefully selected and constantly evaluated to meet the needs of the local

literates. These should be exchanged at regular intervals with the central library or regional collections.

The provision of audio-visual materials to supplement the book

collection must hot be overlooked, especially in those rural areas with low levels of literacy. In West Malaysia, the reasons why audio-visual 81

materia~ are often not considered are mainly because of the high- cost and Aservice, lack of local expertise for maintenance and repair of equipment and lack of trained staff for the more effective use of the materials. It is recommended that :- (i) audio-visual materials be acquired by larger or central librar,y authorities to be circulated" on loan to smaller librar,y units. (ii) cooDiination be maintained with existing social and educational institutions in respect of use of available materials. e.g. Ministry of Information, Filem Negara, Radio

and Television Malaysia and Ministry of Education. (iii) the production of audio-visual materials be made locally

by the various institutions concerned. (iv) the training of personnel in the handling of audio-visual equipment and materials be undertaken by National Librar,y,9°

A ruL~l library wi~h such a varied collection of materials can serve not only as an educational centre but as a cultural and information centre for the community that it is serving.

(d) Funds. Funds should come not only "from the state Governments but from the Federal Government and the local authorities in order to ensure viability of the programme. The contributions could be provided as follows :- (i) Capital Expenditure for new buildings. - Federal Government (through the National Librar,y). (ii) Acquisition of suitable site (land). 82

- S·tate Government. (ii) Initial cost of purchasing library materials. - state Government/Federal Government. (iii) Library Staff. - Library Authority/Local Authority. (iv) Operating cost and annual purchase of library materials. - Library Authority/Local Authority.

(e) Staffing. A basic qualification should be me.t before any recruitment should be carried out to manage a rurai branch library or a mobile library. I would suggest that a graduate in Diploma in Library Science from the

Mara Institute of Technology should be strongly· considered to fill in such a post. Basically, he is widely trained in various aspects of library management during his J year course. However it is essential that he possesses a pleasant disposition· in order to cope well with the rural readers or people.

Apart from the staff employed by the Library,. Authority, voluntary organisations could provide some assistance in some areas. In Sarawak (East Malaysia) a library centre was established at Kampong Gita in co operation with the local youth organisation unit (Saberkas).91 No capital expenditure from Development Funds was involved. Books have been supplied regularly to this library by the Sarawak State Library. This voluntary set up is managed by a sub-committee of Saberkas •. Such an arrangement has worked out exceedingly well in Sarawak. A similar set- up could be encouraged to develop within the'State, before the State Public Library Corporations can make strong headways towards establishing rural libraries. It must be stressed that in each of these libraries regular contact with the central library will be maintained and fre~uent exchanges of books will be carried out as well. In areas where there are voluntary groups (Youth Clubs or Women's Institute) which are run by 'responsible committee members. Such a library project should prove to be viable.

(f) Services.

At present, the types of services provided by the State Libraries

to the rural areas are mainly· lending, reference and minimum bulk loan from the central library. At this stage of the development of public libraries in the various states,the initial 'effort of the libraries is, to establish and.develop library services to serve the 'multivarious needs of the urban population. The proposed minimum standards recom

mend that in order to start an effective state-wide public library ser

vice, an ad~uate initial collection must be built up at the Head~u~ ters library,92 which is usually at the State Capital. It is further

considered that a basic central stock of 50,000 volumes is ~uired before an effective branch library can be established.93 This is be-

cause ~branch libraries are to operate effectively, part of·their stock should be changed at regular intervals (from central library stock) to avoid any declining interests of the readers from reading the same stock of titles.

(i) (i) Branch and Mobile Libraries.

Full-time and part-time branches should be established in

the out~~g districts and sUbdistricts depending on the size of

the ,population to be served. In areas with a 'more scattered po- 84 pulation, one or more mobile libraries could be introduced within a certain radius from their base which would initially be the Central Library. However as the collections in branch libraries expands, these libraries could act as regional centres from which mobile units could be based.

Extension act1vities like story-telling hours, film'shows

and puppet shows, competitions should be slowly included as part of the services provided for the children in the rural branch libraries. This will encourage more children to use the library for recreational as well as for educational purposes.

In developing a mobile service, the Library Authority would have to determine the area to be served in relation to the num ber of neccessary stopping points and the distance from base and survey the number of literate population, occupational interests , of the local residents and types of schools so that a collection that suits the tastes and requirements of the people would be pre

pared and made accessible to them. Mobile libraries must not be a substitute for a part-time branch, where a static service point is essential. Mobile library is more effective in serving school children than the local adult population, as it is easier to time the visit for the children.

The advantages of the mobile library service to the children specifically are listed below:-

(1) Children will read by following the example of other child

ren even if otherwise reluctant. 85

(2) Children do not travel to reach the library, therefore a

much higher percentage than normal will use the library. (J) There is no problem with the recovery of overdue beoks as there may be from other agencies. (4) Help and advice is available. to the child from both the teacher and the librarian. (5) Liaison with teachers can ensure the availability of suit able stock to assist with school projects.

(6) The child will get a library service; if there is no pro-

vision·of library books in his or her school. (7) During school holidays the service can be continued as a holiday mobile service.94 .

The holiday mobile libraries will operate in areas which do not have static branches or mobile libraries for children normal-

. ly. They will be on the road throughout the holiday season on a schedule previously advertised via the schools, by visits and posters. Books will be lent out and open air story hours, will be provided as well.95

. (ii) Promotional Activity •. All the services carried out by the libraries would require adequate amount of publicity or promotional work, if they were to receive responses from the rural population. (1) The influence of the press, radio and television on the

public would be extremely helpful in informing the people about the various activities that are held in the library.

(2) Another form of promotional activity would be by putting up 86

posters or distributing brochures on the schedules or prog-

ranunes that would be held by the library. Public places such as listed below would attract the expected audience:-

in community centres or 'pondok Rukun Tetangga'. on buses. in the adult education classes. at theatres/cinemas. on local beaches. at festivals. in the shops in the waiting rooms of clinics, dentist.96

Various types of promotional materials could be used to as- sit librarians in their pursuit to promote public library use. They include 'slogans' on bookmarks, posters, ca=ier bags, post cards, stickers, badges, T-shirts and slides. films or advertise ment on the services provided for the rural population by the 10- cal library or the public library. In conclusion, the need for rural library services in, Malaysia ·must be felt at all· levels, including the decision and policy-makers, the administrators, educationalists and o.thers. It must be realised that tne efforts in giving a basic education to the rural people would be futile if there were no-follow-up progranunes to continue their intellectual. social and economic progress. 87

Conclusion 6

The establishment of rural libraries in west Malaysia was ini

tially initiated Qy government agencies such as KEr~S of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, EELDA and other voluntary orga nizations. The rural libraries introduced by the Ministry of Agri culture and Rural Development in 1961, were merely centres or rooms with small collections of reading materials. They existed ohly to assist those adults who were undertaking the adult literacy classes. Hence, only the adult section of the rural population had access to these collections. It was only in recent years, that the state Pub lic Library Corporations made their appearances in the arena of rural library development. The two states of Selangor and Kedah are compa ratively much ahead in their rural library services to the rural com munities, than the other states in West Malaysia. However, the .other states are slowly developing their library services to the rural areas in a more positive manner.

Many existing problems are being encountered during the phase of development. The main problems faced by these organizations are poor coordination amongst them, shortage of funds and staff, and poor plan ning, as there is an instance where an area has been provided with

library services Qy more than one organisation, whilst another area

close to it, was in fact devoid of any sort of library services. 88

In this work, I have related to some extent, the services and

problems faced by the significant organisations providing rural lib rary services in West Malaysia. The state Public ,Library Corporations have been entrusted the responsibility of taking over the management of rural libraries as soon as the t,ime is ripe.(as stated in the recommendations found in the 'Blueprint for public library development

in Malaysia').

// // The sooner the takeover, the greater the possibility that the . l~/ management of rural libraries will be more efficiently carried out,

reducing any weaknesses found within the entire system in the develop-

ment of rural libraries. From my own observation, there seem to be a

'silent' competit~on going on amongst the various authorities con-

cerned, instead of them cooperating amongst each other. If the situation persist there will occur an unneccessary duplication of resources, and consequently inefficiency will only thrive even to a greater extent.

The future of rural libraries in West Malaysia deFend immensely on the attitudes of-riot only the rural people but of ,the administrators,

policy makers and educationalists as well. For as long as there is a demand - a growing demand from the rural population for library ser vices and that the authorities believe in the importance of rural libraries, then the future of rural libraries will be promising.

Below is a summary of recommendations envisaged for the State Pub- lic Library Corporations to consider in providing rural library services. " 1) (i) The rural population should be approached within the framework of an organized state public library service which has an adequate headquarters organisation to operate and maintain them. The library system must have adequate staff, resources and funds to supplement the services of branch libraries, bcok mobiles, library centres and deposit collections.

(ii) It is recommer~ed that the various libraries be eventually absorbed into the Library System within each system.

2) The Library Authority should utilize all existing premises where suitable, such as community centres, agricultural centres, Youth clubs, village halls, reading rooms, shophouses and schools.

3) (i) The rural library should also provide information of all'

kinds supplied by various Government agencies in the form of pamphlets, posters, newspapers, periodicals news bulletin, maps and charts. Visual presentation of information should

be displayed on notice boards in the library.

(ii) Service points should have an initial collection of 1,000 volumes of books. This stock should be carefully selected and constantly evaluated to meet the needs of the local literates or new literates.

(iii) Rural library collection should include audio-visual materials and such materials should be acquired by the central or ganisation for circulation to library units.' The training of personnel in the more effective use of audio-visual mate-

,:t'ials should be undertaken be the National Library. 90

4) The State Library service should be supported by Federal and State Government Funds.

5) One or more qualified librarian should be employed and attached to the headquarters organisation to be responsible for the library pro ject. Graduates, in Diploma in Library Soience from the Mara Institute of Technology should be strongly considered to fill in postsat the branch libraries.

6) (i) Extension activities like story-telling hours, film shows, puppet shows etc. should be included as part of the services provided for the children in. the rural branch libraries and mobile libraries. I (ii) Holiday mobile libraries should be Pntroduced during school holidays. Books will be lent out and open-air story hours

will be provided as well.

7) (i) Promotional activity or publicity from the state Libraries

should be carried out concurrently with the various services provided for the rural communities.

(ii) The press, radio and television should be made use of in order to inform the general public of existing services or programmes available. (iii) Posters should be put up and brochures distributed at public places in order to inform the publio of existing programmes.

, 8) All organisations and institutions which are concerned with rural development should cooperate with the Library Authority in the provi- 91 sion of reading and information materials for the rural population. They should pool their resources to achieve their common objective. 92

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES

1) DE SILVA, L. & KUEH, J. Reading a rural population. Paper

presented at the joint conference of PPM and LAS on 'The Need

to know - developing public library services for the communi

ty'. Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, 3-5 March, 1977,2.

2) LOOMIS, C.P. & BEEGLE, J .A. Rural sociology: the strategy

of change. Englewoods Cliffs; N.J I Prentice Hall, 1957, 39-40.

:3} . JONES, G.E. Rural life patterns and processes. London

Longman, 1973, 3.

4) MALAYSIA. Statistics Department. Population and Housing Census in Malaysia, 1970. Kuala Lumpur : Statis.tics Depart'

ment, 1972.

MALAYSIA. Selangor : Negeri Selangor Terus Bergerak, Tahun 1966-1968. Kuala Lumpur : Government Printere, 1969, 1.

6) SUHAIMI, Hj. A.H. Mobile library service in the State of

Selangor. Shah Alam : School of Library Science, I.T.M., 1976, 10. (unpublished).

7) Ibid· 93

8) lli&.

9) Ibid., 12.

10) SHARR, F.A. Functions and Organisations of a rural library system. Unesco Bull. Libr., 1972, 26, 2.

11) ~., 2.

12) Ibid., 2-3. 13

13) ~., 3·

14) -Ibid.

15) Ibid.

16) UNESCO. Literacy. 1965-1967. Paris. Unesco 1968. Literacy, 1967-1969 : Progress achieved in literacy throughout the world. Paris : Unesco, 1970.

17) UNESCO. World Congress of Ministers of Education on the Era dication of Illiteracy, Teheran, 8-19 September, 1965. Final report.

(\, ">:18) BAREGU, M.L.M. Rural libraries in functional liberacy cam- ~ ,-' paigns. Unesco Bull. Libr., 197226(1), 18-19. 20) Ibid.

21) ~., 20.

22) Ibid., 21.

23) ~.,

®. Thi9..

25) MEHTA, J.C. Rural libraries in India. Unesco Bull Libr.,

1972, 26, 29.

26) MUHAMMAD, A. Rural libraries in Pakistan. Unesco Bull. Libr.,

1975, 29(3), 157-158.

27) Ibid •. , 158.

(.... 2~:8~eJ FENELOV, E.A. Libraries in rural areas in the U.S.S.R. Unesco Bull. Libr., 1972, 26, 13.

§ KALAJDZIEVA, K. Rural libraries is Bulgaria. Unesco Bull.

~., 1972, 26, 80.

® STOCKHAM, K.A. Libraries in Bulgaria. A report on a visit, November 1964, 1 (unpublished). 95

31) Ibid.

32) .ru4..,4.

33) KALAJDZIEVA, K" op. cit.

]4) STOCKHAM, K.A. op. cit.·

35) TAKACS, M. Work and organization of village libraries in Hungary. Unesco Bull. Libr., 1972, 26, 31.

38) CHOONG, H.K. Reading public of the mini libraries in rural

Korea. Libri, 1978, 28(3), 215.

40) ANUAR, H. Blueprint for public libraFf development in Malay

~. Kuala Lumpur: PPM 1968.

41) .ru4..

42) MALAYSIA. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Com

munity Development Division. Project: rural libraries 1977,

1 (unpublished)~ 43) NORMA) Abu Sema::l. Public Libra....ry services to rural areas.

Shah Alam, School of LibrarY Science, I.T.M. (Unpublished).

44) MALAYSIA. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Community Development Division Fisalah Kemas, no. 1. Kuala

Lumpur : Government Punters, 1975, 5. (PaJn;?hlet Kemas, No.l)

45) NORMA, Abu Seman. op. cit., 5.

46) Ibid., 6-7.

47) MALAYSIA. Kementrian Pertanian dan Pembangunan Luarbandar.

Bahagian Kemajuan Masya.ra.ka.t. Lapuran Khutub Khanah Desa

1977, 7 (unpublished).

48) ~., 6.

49) THAM, Wah Eng, NooR SHAM,Hamid and YIP Seong Shun, Linda. Cur

rent public library services in Peninsular Malaysia. Position

paper at the Joint Conference of PPM and LAS, 'The Need to Know

- developing public library services for the community'. Peta

ling Ja.ya, 3-5 March, 1977.' p. 27.

50) MALAYSIA. Kementrian Pertanian dan Pembangunan Luarbandar.

Bahagian Kema.juan Masyarakat. op. cit.

51) Ibid., 7. 97

52) Ibid., 8.

53) PERSATUAN Perpustakaan Malaysia (PPM). Draft of the Blueprint

for School library development in Malaysia; prepared with the

cooperation of Ministry of Education, Malaysia and PFI1 under

the chairmanship of D.E.K. Wijasuriya, 1979. Kuala Lumpur:

PP11, 1979 •

.54) NORMA, Abu Seman. op. cit., 5.

55) ~., 6.

57) PERSATUAN Perpustakaan Malaysia (PPM)., op. cit.

58) LIM, Edward Huck Tee. op. cit.

59) ~;

60) WIJASURIYA, D.E.K. Public Library Development in Malaysia:

from the Blueprint to the present. Paper presented at the

IFLA Worldwide Library Professional Se~inar in Korea. Seoul,

31st May - 5th June, 1976, 8-12.

61) ANUAR, H. and WIJASURIYA, D.E.K. Getting the job done; plan

ning for effective action. Paper'presented at the Joint Con

ference of ~1 and LAS, 'Need to know - developing public lib- 98

rary services for the community', in Malaysia. Petaling Jaya,

3-5 March. 1977, 1.

62) WIJASURIYA, D.E.K. op. cit., 13-14.

63) ~., 7-8.

64) TRAM, Wah Eng, NOOR Sham Hamid and YIP, Seong Chun, Linda.

op. cit., 20.

65) SHAHANEEM Mustafa. Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Selangor, In:

Maiallah Perpustakaan Malaysia, 1978, 6, 83.

66) SUHAIMI, Hj. Abu Hassan. Mobile library service in the state

of Selangor. Shah Alam; ITM, 1975, 20.

67) AMINAH, Saidin, HASNAH Taha and ZURIAH, Md. Dahlim, Rural lib

rary services in Selangor. with reference to three rural areas -

Kg. Mew. Klang: Kg. Teluk Datuk. Banting: Kg. Ulu Langat. Batu

1§,. Shah Alam, ITM, 1979, 15.

68) Ibid.

70) Ibid.

71) SUHAIMI, Hj. Abu Hassan, op. cit., 34. 99

72) AMINAH, Saidin, HASNAH Taha and ZURIAH, Md. Dahlim, op. cit., 17.

73) SUHAIMI, Hj.,Abu Hassan, op. cit., 35.

74) Ibid., 24-28.

75) AMINAH, Saidin, HASNAH Taha and ZURIAH, Md. Dahlim, op. cit., 16.

76) THAM, Wah Eng, NOOR Sham Hamid and YIP, Seong Chun, op. cit., 23-24.

77) Ibid., 4.

78) HASNAH, Taha. Personal correspondence dated on 29'.,7. 80. ",

79) THAM, Wah Eng, NOOR Sham Hamid and YIP, Seong Chun, op. cit., 4.

80) LAPURAN, tahunan, Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Kedah, 1977.

(Annual report of Kedah Public Library Corporation, 1977)

81) THAM, Wah Eng, NOOR Sham Hamid and Yip Seong Chun, op. cit., 5.

82) LAPURAN tahunan, Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Kedah, 1977.

84) HASNAH) Taha. Personal co=espondence dated on 29. 7. 80 100

86) Ibid.

87) DE SILVA, L. and KUEH, J. Reading a rural population. op. cit., 17.

88) .lli:.1..

89) Ibid., 18.

90) Ibid., 19-20.

91) DE SILVA, L. and KUEH, J. Current public library services in

Sarawak. Paper presented at a Joint Conference of Pl'M and LAS,

'The need to know - developing public library services for the

conununity', Petaling Jaya, 3-5 March, 1977, 6.

92) DE SILVA, L. and KUEH, J. Reaching a rural population. op. cit., 12 .

93) .lli:.1.., 12.

~ 94) EASTWOOD, C.R. Mobile libraries and other public library trans

port. London, Association of Assistant Librarians, 1967, 237.

95) Ibid., 237-238.

96) NOREHAN, Ahmad and NOR Azmah AM. Aziz. The public libraries

promotional activities - a discussion. Kuala L1L~pur; National

Library of Malaysia 1979, 6-7. (1L~PUbli~hed).

\ 101

ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY.

ASTBURY, Raymond. New adult readers and the public library in the

United Kingdom. Unesco Bull. Libr., 1977, 31, 26-)4.

BENGE, R.C. Cultural crisis and libraries in the third world.

London: Clive Bingley, 1979.

CHANDLER, G. International librarianship. Lond~m : Library Associa

tion, 1972.

~ CHANDLER, G. Recent developments in advanced librarianship; the first

IF~ pre-session seminar for developing countries sponsored by Unesco.

Unesco Bull. Libr. 1972, 69-72.

'if DALE, S. The adult independent learning I project' work with self

directed learners in (U.S.) public libraries. Journal of Librarian

ship, 1979, April, 83-106.

~,) EASTWOOD, C.R. Mobile libraries and other public library transport.

London: Association of Assistant Librarians, 1967.

td.- ESTABROOK, L. Emerging trends in community library services. Library

Trends, 1979 (Fall). 151-162.

[)i FINNEGAN, Gerry. Public library and community development. In:

Martin William, ed. Library services to the disadvantaged. London:

Lennit Books & Clive Bingley, 1975, 32..1,15. 102

FIEEr, A. Children's libraries. London: Andre Deutsch, 197J.

C<- JEFFERSON, G. Libraries and society. London: Jones Clarke & Co.,

ex: JESSUP'S, J.W. Libraries and adult education. Unesco Bull. Libr., 197J, J06-J15.

t:< JOLLIFFE, H. Public library extension activities. London: Library Association, 1962.

MORl'IMORE, A.D. Branch libraries. London: Andre Deutsch, 1966. t! PENNA, C. V. et. al. National libra;y and information services a handbook for planners. London: Butterworths, 1977.

cl SCOLAR - SOBRINO, Hipolito. Audio-visual materials and rural libra ries. Unesco Bull. Libr., 1972, 26, 8-12.

SMITH, T .L. The sociology of rural life. Jrd. ed. New York Harper and Brothers. 195J.

() THOMAS, G. Libra.'ry services in rural areas. Service Point, 1979, 17, 28-Jl+.

TOTTERDALL, B. ed. Public libra;y purpose a reader. London Clive Bingley, 1978. 103

{J-- WIJASURIYA, D.E .K., Lim Huck TEE and NADARAJAH, Radha. The barefoot librarian: library development in South East Asia. London:

Clive Bengley, 1975.

WITHERS, F.N. Standards for libra:ry services an international sur-

vey. Unesco Press, 1974. 104

APPENDIX 1

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE (i) District Library (a) Supply of equipment in centre 80 x ~ 1,000 ~ 80,000 ~ (b) Supply of books 80 x ~ 10,000 . ~ 800,000 j 920,000 (c) Boxes for rotating books ~ 40,000 l) 80X2X~250

(ii) Mukim LibraEl: (a) Modification to building 320 x ~ 1,000 - ~ 320,000 ~ (b) Supply of equipment in centre 320 x ~ 1,000 ~ 320,000 1> 4,000,000 (c) Supply of books, l 320 x ~ 10,000 1> 3,200,000 (d) Boxes for rotating books ~ 320 x 2 x 1> 250 - 1> 160,000 ) (iii) Villa~ Readi~ Rooms (a) Modification to buildings & supply of equipment 640 x 1> 500 1> 320,000 (b) Supply of books 1> 1,920,000 640 x 1> 2,500 ~ 1,600,000 l SS 1> '6,840,000

Source,: MALAYSIA • Ministry of mculture and Rural Development. COIlll1luni;ty,Development Division. Rural libraries; project. 1980. (unpublished) 105

APPENDIX 2

OPERATING EXPENSES

A; . For one unit per year.

(i) District Library

(a) Worker ~ - - (b) Newspaper 4 x 251 x 365 days

, (ii) 'Mukim' Library (Regional)

(a) Worker : 150 x 12 months - j, 1,800

(b) Newspaper : 4 x 251 x 365 days - j, 365 j, 2,165

(iii) Village Reading Room.

(a) Worker : voluntary

(b) Newspaper : 4 x 25/ x 365 days

~ This library is located in the Community Service Centre, and the 'caretaker' there will also function as 'librarian'.

B. Annual required expenses

1976 District : 16 x 365 .. ' = 5,840 ...... " ~ ... 'Mukim' : 64 x 2165 = 138,560 j, 191,120 Village 128 x 365 = 365 1 106

1977 District 32 x 365 = 11,680 'Mukim' 128 x 2165 = 277,120

Village 256 x 365 = 93,440

1978 District 48 x 365 = 17,520

'Mukim' 192 x 2165 = 415,680

Village 384 x 365 = 140,160

1979 District 60 x 365 = 23,360 'Mukim' : 256 x 2165 = 554,240 764 480 1. • Village 512 x 365 = 186,880

1980 District 80 x 365 = 29,200 'Mukim' 320 x 2165 = 692,800 1·. 955.600 Village 640 x 365 = 233,600

1> 2,866,800

Source MALAYSIA. Ministr,y of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Community Development Division. Rural Libraries I Project. 1980. 107

APP1:NDIX '3

ORGANISATION OF 'KEMAS' RURAL. LIBRARIES LIST OF DUTIES OF LIBRARY ATTENDANTS

(a) .Normal duties. (i) to open up the librar,yand work according to the schedule provided. (ii)' 'to devise a system of accepting books, magazines, news papers and to inform the authorities concerned regarding the contributions from the public. (iii) to devise a loan .system of books to the public. (iv) to make paper cuttings from newspapers and magazines re garding the attempts made by KEMAS a.t community develop ment, particularly. (v) to serve as the ,secretary in the Rural Library Committee in the village. (vi) to organise and make appropriate charges with regards to the arrangement of books and other relating matters to suit the charging needs of the readers.

(b) Additional duties - (within the library). (i) to cooperate with the librar,y assistants in the library. (1i) 'to promote further education classes.

(i1i) to·build up the library's collection by increasing the reading materials 108

(c) Duties (outside the library) (i) to assist and cooperate with library assistants from

other rural. libraries. (ii) to report to the authorities concerned on the reac tions of the public to the programmes organised Qy the Ministry. (iii) to 'participate actively with other voluntary bodies in promoting literacy campaigns amongst the local com munity.

Source MALAY~+A. Kementrian Pertanian dan Perbangunan Luar

bandar. Bahagian Kema,juan Masyarakat. Lapuran Khutub Khanah Desa. 1977 (unpublished). p. 5-6. 109

APPENDIX 4

SUMMARY OF THE MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE,

BLUEPRINT TO PUBLIC LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT IN MALAYSIA.

I Planning.

(i) ·Full public library development is estimated to take 20 years to achieve. Library development five-year plans should be incorporated in the national development plans, beginning with the next development plan for 1971-75 (Section VI)

(H) An interim plan is provided for 1969-70, using interim standards of library service which provide goals as well as guidelines for evaluation and action. (Section VI and (iii) Appendix Ill) (Hi) The first plan period, 1971-1975 with minimum standards of service as a guide on priorities, should provide for central public libraries to be established in state capitals. These central libraries will eventually serve. as headquarters of the public library service of each state. (Section VI and Appendix IV) (iv) Once a National Library is established, planning of publio

library services, including pe.~iodic revision of library standards, should be undertaken by a National Library Ad-

visory Board headed by the Director of the National Lib-

rary. This Board will provide and coordinate the national '. . planning of all library service. (Section VI) 110

II Legislation.

(v) Legislation is recommended which will provide for estab lishment, organization and financial support for public libraries. (Section VI and Appendices'IIa, lIb)

III Structure and organization.

(vi) Public libraries should be established and run by indepen dent Public Library Corporations on a state basis, with

representation of Federal,State and Local Government in terest. (Section VI) (vii) The proposed National Library of Malaysia should be the apex of the national librar,y system and should provide leaderships, consultant and other service for public lib raries. (Section'VI)

IV Finance.

(viii) Annually recurrent costs of public library services should

be bor.ne by the states and capital costs of buildings,

equipments and initial bookstock by the Federal Govern ment. Local authorities should contribute towards public library services wherever feasible in the form of funds, premises and other such means. (Section VI) (ix) The Federal governments through the National Library, should provide funds on an annual per capita basis to states Which, because of low economic or population base 111

are unable to meet the full costs of library service. (Section VI).

(x» Local and other sources of funds for implementation of the public library development plan are recommended. (Section VI).

V Staff.

(xi) Librarianship should be recognized as a profession and qualifications defined. (Section IV, parts I and 11)" (xii) Priority should be given to implementing a scholarship scheme for the training of librarian. (Section IV, part III).

(x~ii) Library school for Malaysia should be established to meet the need for qualified librarians. (xiv) Improved salary scales and schemes of service are recom

mended for professio~l and non-professional staff. (Section IV, part IV).

VI Collections.

(~) The central library'should aim to provide a minimum ba sic collection of 100,000 books (Section VI and Appendix IV, part Ill).

(xvi) Priority in building up the book collection should be gi ven to books iri the national language. A basic list of such books is provided. (Appendix VII). (xvii) Policies are'recommended for book selection and weeding. (Appendixes V, VI). 112

(xviii) A centralized processing centre should be established. (Section VI, part V).

VII Services.

(xix) Public librar,y services should be provided freely and on

equal terms to all ~embers of the community.

(xx) Services should only be provided and'expanded in keeping with,avalibility of staff and adequacy of book resources. (Section VI).

(xxi) Priority should be given to the establishment and develop ment of children's services. (Section VI).

(xxi~) Service to rural areas, including mobile'library ~ervices,

should be provided separately by the Federal Land, Develop-

ment Authority ~ the Ministry of National and Rural De velopment for the first plan period initially and should be gradually taken over by the Public Librar,y Corporation. (Section VI)

VIII Buildings.

(xxiii) Adapted or renovated buildings may be provided in the inte

rim plan period 1969-70, and in the first plan period, 1971-75. (Section VI).

(xxiV) New buildings should be designed to allow for future exten-

sions over a 20 year period and should meet with standards ll3

laid down by the National Library. or National Library Advisory Board. (Section VI).

IX Role of the PPM •.

(xxv) The Standing Committee on Public Libraries should provide basic lists of periodicals, reference. books and children's books to assist libraries in meeting the minimum standards for 1971-75. (Section VI). (xxvi) The P.PM should continuously. seek to educate the public on the role of public libraries in national development. (Section VI).

(xxvii) The P.PM ~laysia should provide courses for non-professio

nal staff of public libraries. It should'also provide courses for professional staff until a library school is established. (Section VI, part III). (xxviii) The PPM should be represented' on Public Library Corpora tions, and on the National Library and the National Libra ry Advisory Board. (Section VI,parts I and II).

X Role of the National Library.

(xxix) The National Library, should be responsible for the coordi nation of public library services, the implementation and periodic revision of standards of library service, and the channelling of Federal grants for capital expenditure on buildings, equipment and initial book stock. ,(Section VI, parts II and V). 114

(xxx) The National Library should make Federal per capita grants to states which are unable to provide fully for public lib rary services. (xxxi) The National Library should be represented on all Public Library Corporation and should provide consultant services for public libraries, including the provision of basic lists of books and periodicals. (Section VI, parts 11 and V). (xxxii) The National Library .should coordinate the rural library services provided by the Federal Land Development Authority and the Ministry of National and Rural Development with the

library services provided by the Public Library Corporation. (Section VI, part V).

XI Role of the Library Advisory Board.

(xXxiii) The library AdvisorJ Board should be headed· by the Director of the National Library. (Section VI, part I)

(xxxiv) T~e Board should coordinate and plan the services and re sources of all types of libraries, including the National Library, University and college libraries. public libraries, special libraries and documentation centres (Section VI, part I)

(xxxv) The Board's approval should be mandatory for standard pla.~s for library buildings, for which Federal capital grants are

re~uested. (Section VI, part V)

Source WIJASURIYA,' D.E.K. P'olblic Library Development Programme in West Malaysia: From the Blueprint to the present. Paper pre sented at IFLA Worldwide library Professional Seminar in Seoul

Seoul, Korea, 31st May - 5th JtL~e, 1976, 2-6. 115 APPENDIX 5 : SELANGOR PUBLIC LIBRARY MOBILE STOPS

( UP TO END OF NOV. 1976 )

SELANGOR

KEY

Cen trQ/ Li bl'1:lr~ • mobile Libr<:\'"j S~ops ------mobile. Libra'"j Rou+es

SCAL.E' : ('''GM r. 10 "'1~fS. /7 /, ---'~ ' ...... , -', ~ I : Thailand I \ ,'>, \ ,~ ~ I.... ,'" \ .~ ," ,. .... ) ...... ~ ...... , tJ .... \ i r"'",-} j i ( I .~.J I ·.5.J ,..-.r-- -' ('/ ,,. \, • \ -' H i

I ,,~ '., • ,l -~

KEY • 'cen+,,, I L:.b",~ • e"",,,h L;bra":) • Mob',le; Stops _ mob',Ice. , )..:. b,,"r~ R.o ... t

~~APPENDIX 6 Kedah Public Library, branch libraries and mobile library stops and routes 1~~

~~1 . 1~~