Universal Service Provision Libraries

The Universal Service Provision (USP) Project, which was initiated in early 2003, was a federal funded project undertaken by Ministry of Energy, Communication and Multimedia (KTKM) of Malaysia. The project is to address the provisional requirement of Section 202(1), Communication and Multimedia Act 1998(Act 588) which stresses”..penyediaan perkhidmatan dalam kawasan yang kurang liputan perkhidmatan atau bagi kumpulan yang kurang diberi perkhidmatan dalam masyarakat..” The main target of this project is to realize the concept of knowledge-based economy (K-economy) and to bridge the digital divide between the rural and urban population.

Objectives

The main objective of USP were :

a) Bridging the digital divide
b) Fair distribution and access to ICT facilities

Implementing Agency and Working Partners

a) KTKM – the Project Owner
b) Public Work Department – the Project Coordinator
c) Telecommunication companies – the main technology contractor

Pustaka Negeri Sarawak plays its part by assisting these three agencies in the physical implementation of the project.

Basic Infrastructure Requirements

The mandatory selection criteria for a USP project site are:

a) the absence of a fixed telecommunication line; and
b) a stable building which is not subject to floods and easy break-ins.

Equipment and Training

When the project commences, each village library that has been selected for this project will be installed with at least the following:

a) 1 office telephone line
b) 2 public telephone line – pay phone card (telephone booths in the library compound)
c) 1 Internet line (64kbps-Uplink)
d) 2 unit personal computers
e) 1 unit of printer
f) 1 unit of scanner
g) 2 stand fans
h) Table with chairs for the 2 personal computers
i) 2 unit of UPS
j) 1 steel cabinet for IDU,IIUB, etc.
k) VSAT
l) 2 email accounts

Training will be provided by MAXIS Broadband to two staff who will be handling and responsible for the services. The training package comprise of:

a) Handling of UPS, computer and other equipment
b) Handling of printer cartridge
c) Scanning
d) Sending/receiving email using MAXIS email service provider

Implementation Plan and Cost

Each unit of USP project will be implemented via an implementation plan, which comprises of the following activities:

a) Site survey
b) Acquisition of side
c) Preparation of site
d) Acquisition of VSAT, telephone, solar panel generate set
e) Delivery of equipment
f) Installation and commissioning
g) Project handing over

The whole cost of the project is borne by the Federal Government of Malaysia through Ministry of Energy, Communication and Multimedia.

Operation and Maintenance of the Project

The whole system was maintained by Ministry of Energy, Communication and Multimedia. Each project site was maintained based on the Ministry’s terms and conditions. Generally, the maintenance involves the following for a period of five years.

a) The supply and delivery of fuel for the generator set
b) Supply of printer toner cartridges
c) General maintenance of computers and other ICT components

Selected Village Libraries

20 village libraries under the various local authorities in Sarawak had been selected for the implementation of the USP project. These village libraries were:

1) Perpustakaan Desa Kampung Bokah,Lundu
2) Perpustakaan Desa Kampung Lubuk Punggur
3) Perpustakaan Desa Kampung Pichin, Serian
4) Perpustakaan Desa Kampung Taee, Serian
5) Perpustakaan Desa Teng Bukap, Padawan
6) Perpustakaan Desa Serdeng, Matu Daro
7) Perpustakaan Desa Nanga Engkuah, Song
8) Perpustakaan Desa Kampung Nyalau, Bekenu
9) Perpustakaan Desa Long San, Marudi
10) Perpustakaan Desa Puru Sia, Lawas
11) Perpustakaan Desa Kampung Kesindu, Simunjan
12) Perpustakaan Desa Kampung Opar, Bau
13) Perpustakaan Desa Kampung Empila, Samarahan
14) Perpustakaan Desa Kampung Telaga Air, Padawan
15) Perpustakaan Desa Rantau Panjang, Sibu
16) Perpustakaan Desa Jerijeh Baru, Matu Daro
17) Perpustakaan Desa Kpg. Pahlawan, Limbang
18) Perpustakaan Desa Long Jegan, Marudi
19) Perpustakaan Desa Nanga Jagau, Kanowit
20) Perpustakaan Desa Kampung Hilir Matu, Matu Daro

Lessons Learnt

The USP libraries were a success in semi rural areas, but in remote areas of Sarawak, their impact was rather limited. This was largely due to the following factors:

a) Poor servicing and maintenance work by the main contractors
b) Poor transportation system that hindered the delivery of parts and supplies
c) Extra work load on the part of the library attendants
d) Lack of training on the operation of the equipment