Sarawakiana Division

The Sarawakiana Division is under the purview of Depository Services Sector mainly deals with rare and archival materials of various topics, formats, periods and publications received or enforced through the Legal Deposit functions. Previously, the Sarawakiana Division was established under Technical Services Division at Library Services Sector. However, it was handed over to Depository Services Sector in 2014. The Special Collections and archives are housed at Special Collections Room, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Kuching or repositories at the State Records Repository (SRR).

Functions and Roles

The role of Sarawakiana Division as in the Sarawak State Library Ordinance, 1999 are:

1. To develop and preserve Pustaka’s niche collection (Sarawakiana Collections) as prescribed under Sarawak State Library Ordinance Cap 29.
2. To enforce the statutory provision of the Legal Deposit, as stated under Section 15 of the Sarawak State Library Ordinance, 1999.
3. To promote services, programs and activities and makes information accessible to public and researchers as prescribed under Sarawak State Library Ordinance Cap. 29.

The current staffs

1. Izaruddin Bin Moss : Head of Division
2. Jassalini Jamain : Head of Legal Deposit and Oral History Unit
3. Shafinaz Afidia Andrew Affendy : Legal Deposit Unit
4. Dayang Nur Syima Awang Adrus : Special Collection Unit
5. Aidashermilla binti Hashim : Special Collection Unit
6. Natalia Muhamad : Special Collection Unit
7. Nadzrah Mohamad Othman : Oral History Unit
8. Zainal Ali : Oral History Unit

The former staffs

1. Hayati Haji Sabil: Head of Division

Legal Deposit Unit

1. To ensure that the literary heritage and information in the state is preserved for researchers and scholarly use and for generations to come.
2. To acquire and provide library resources or materials published in Sarawak.
3. To provide bibliographic records according to the standards based on published materials.
4. To maintain statistical records of library resources or materials published in Sarawak.
5. To provide awareness, advisory services, promotion and enforcement of Legal Deposit requirements in the state through program/activities and collaborations.

Special Collection Unit

1. To develop Sarawakiana Collection through purchase, bequest/donation, content development, oral history, digitization and legal deposit especially on Sarawakiana and Borneo materials.
2. To acquire Special Collection materials.
3. To enrich Local Content development.
4. To process and preserve special collections materials.
5. To foster access, use and promotion of services and Special Collections and materials of archival value.

Oral History Unit

1. To preserve State’s heritage especially on social and cultural history.
2. To document oral history.
3. To promote awareness on the importance of Oral History and initiate discussion and training on the oral history practices.
4. To process and foster access and use of oral history collections.