Banda Aceh Public Library

We went to tourist information, so they could tell the becak (tuktuk) driver where to go to get to the public library.  Once we got there after a few phonecalls by guys at the entrance the head of the library comes out, overjoyed to meet me!  All the staff were told to come and have a photo.  Guy on the left of me is the boss librarian, the Indonesian Ian!

He was so enthusiastic about the library, and getting adults to read.  He gained a scholarship in Jakarta from the German embassy, and trained as a librarian in Germany, so he speaks the local language, Aceh, Indonesian, German and English!  His big boss (state library at Jakata) is in Holland at the moment studying library techniques to introduce back to Indonesia. 
Of course Banda Aceh was ground zero for the earthquake, and was smashed in the Tsunami (as in other blog entry) so he has done amazing things getting this library up and moving!  He is proud of the 200 000 books they have (mostly Australia and various embassies) but has no English books at all, neither adult or children’s.  I am hoping that Nelson Library may be able to help me source and donate some books for this library.  This is the photos i took of the library, only 8 years on from devastation!  These are 3 different parts of the library.  The library is almost exclusively used by students (hence the need for English books).

The local Aceh history area (heavily used for school projects) where books can not be issued, local papers and student thesis are archived here as well.

This is there reference only floor, along with a photo of the reference librarians!

Every day they have the kindergarten come to the library, the children’s library is out of the main building in it’s own building with foam mats covering the concrete floor.  The kids watch dvd’s as well as being read books etc

It really was an amazing experience.  The head librarian has so much excitement for his library and his community.  He is on tv a lot apparently trying to get adults to get literate.  He has set up a type of mobile library for the rural children and trys all sorts of gimmicks to get the adult readers to come to their public library including an annual book fair with heavily discounted books (which he has set up with another aid group) and staying open nights hoping to get adult readers in.  We finished the tour and sat in his office talking for ages, he showed me many letters from embassies and aid groups giving support and donations after the tsunami.  He also makes sure each librarian gets proper training (‘otherwise how do we keep up with library services’) there are about 35 librarians working there and they were so amazingly friendly!!!!