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PNG public libraries: Out of touch with the information age
By JOHN MATTHEWS
Public library services was introduced to PNG in 1936 and
developed comprehensively.
The system has a highly centralized Public Library Service of 24
country wide branches with selection, ordering and processing
taken care of at a central point.
Sadly after 71 years, this comprehensive system has gone into
absence.
PNG needs public libraries to provide residents access to the
record of human thought and achievement, for the purpose of
information, education, recreation and culture.
As an experienced library educator, I have witness this
situation with melancholy as our public library system has gone
out of touch with the current information landscape.
There are two public libraries that I am familiar with and in a
better position to discuss their existence and the current state
of the public library system in PNG.
The Kimbe Public Library from my local home town in West New
Britain province was housed at a rundown cultural centre
building for many years in an isolated part of the town and
recently been moved to the West New Britain University centre to
occupy a room within the centre building.
Certainly, this library needs space to accommodate all its
resources, patrons and staff to operate effectively.
Madang Public Library has never been in operation for the six
years (1999 - 2004) when I was a resident of Sagalau in Madang.
There were no reasons given for its closure.
During a professional discussion with former colleague, Joyce
Orevi, of Madang Primary Teachers College Library, she
communicated with me her dissatisfaction of services and
continuous closer of Madang public library.
She said that she wants to see the library rehabilitated and
refurbished with resources to be an information centre for the
increasing student and general population of Madang.
During our conversation, numerous problems were identified with
regards to information services, including public library
services. Problems that hinder the efficient provision of public
library services are as follows:-
-A vacuum has been created by the closing of the Office of
Information and Extension Services. This had been compounded by
subsequent events.
-There is a lack of clear objectives for services leading to an
inability to plan or identify core issues and appropriate
strategies, channels and levels of communication
-There is a low priority for information and subsequent neglect
and a lack of policy support.
-Despite a lack of interest in improved services there was also
interference in services from the political masters and the need
to obtain higher level approval (which was not all that easily
obtained).
-Infrastructure was ineffective and inappropriate.
-Within Government reports and policies were being produced but
not being fully debated making it very difficult to inform
people about them.
We recapitulate that there is strong indication towards lack of
government support for this information delivery means.
The above problems discussed by Joyce and I does not suggest
only Kimbe and Madang Public libraries but also a strong
indication on the current state of other public libraries in PNG.
In this ever changing information landscape, citizens must know
that public libraries provide information that supports lifelong
learning and adult continuing education, hobbies, life skills,
cultural interests, school projects, and development of language
skills. They aim to provide impartial access to information on
government activities, democratic rights and current affairs.
Not least, they provide a range of materials for general
entertainment and relaxation, and they encourage a love of
reading in young children.
Public libraries guarantee every person access to the
information their need to grow and fulfil their potential. They
are the libraries of the people: the people's university.
We must always see public libraries and its collections as more
diverse than those of any other type of library, in order to
meet the wide range of needs in our communities.
Their broad - based collections cover all subjects and formats,
reflecting the range in ages, interests, educational levels,
ethnic origins and literacy of the users.
The collections developed by a public library also reflect the
nature and special interests of the community, whether it is a
multi - ethnic town, a farming centre, or an area like Madang
with a large number of tertiary institutions. The more
responsive the public library can be to its community, the more
its collection and services will reflect that diversity.
Our public libraries must purchase materials that are general or
introductory, rather than specialised. The role of the public
library is not to duplicate the specialised collection of
institutions such as universities and special libraries, but to
supplement them by providing materials for public use. The
larger the library, however, the more specialised collections on
particular subjects will be. Usually a public library does not
buy textbooks, unless they are works of wider general interests
and use.
To meet the demand of the current information society our public
libraries will have to face growing pressure to satisfy a wide
range of specialist needs. The needs relate to changes in the
school curricula to resource - based learning, increase use of
distance teaching, business awareness of the importance of
business information in good decision making, and the ever
increasing availability of information in digital formats. All
of these developments will affect the way public libraries build
their collections.
As a result, Public Librarians need to be aware that a formal
Collection Development Policy must become an important document.
This policy sets out clear guidelines for deciding what type and
format of material to purchase, for whom, and to what degree of
specialisation. It helps a library defines its role as an
information provider.
A public library aims at balance in its collections - balance of
view points, balance in broad subject coverage, and balance in
providing the classics of literature together with the latest
bestsellers. It strives for balance in meeting popular demand
while continuing to build quality collections of long term
utility and value.
To end this piece I would like to thank Joyce Orevi for her
professional contribution to this article.
The writer of this article is a PNG Lecturer with the School of
Information and Social Sciences at The Open Polytechnic of New
Zealand in Wellington, NZ.
 
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