Public Libraries in Sarawak

In Sarawak, the public library services are provided by government agencies such as the twenty four local authorities under the purview of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing (MLGH); the Commission of the City of Kuching North or Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara (DBKU), the Council of the City of Kuching South or Majliks Bandaraya Kuching Selatan (MBKS), the Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) and the MLGH itself.

Brief History

The former Sarawak State Library at Jalan P. Ramlee, Kuching

During the White Rajah era right up to the British rule under the Crown Colony of Sarawak, the library services were in the form subscribed services catering for the needs of the government officers and expectorates. There was also book box services, where books were packed in boxes and sent to sub-urban and rural areas for the officers serving there. In the 1950s and 1960s, the British Council played a major roles in providing library services in Kuching.

In 1970, the then Ministry of Local Government of Sarawak established the Library Division to coordinate the library development in Sarawak. By this time the local authorities in Sarawak were mandated to provide public library services in their ares of administration. Being the central agency in administrating the library development in Sarawak, the Library Division assumed the roles and functions of a state library. Rightly so, it was later called the Sarawak State Library.

With the passing of the Sarawak State Library Ordinance in 1999, the Library Division ceased the roles of the Sarawak State Library and Pustaka Negeri Sarawak officially becomes the State Library.

The Local Authorities

Public libraries are generally managed by the local authorities, which may be a city, municipal or district councils. These local authorities operate under several Ordinances. The Local Authorities Ordinance, 1996 makes it compulsory for the twenty four local authorities under the MLGH and the MBKS to provide library services in their areas of jurisdiction.

The DBKU operates a city library and eleven community libraries under the Commission of the City of Kuching North Ordinance, 1988, while the BDA operates a main library and three branch libraries under the Bintulu Development Authority Ordinance, 1978. In most cases there is a main or central library, sometimes with district libraries or branches around an urban area, and often with an extensive number of village libraries.

The roles of the Federal Government of Malaysia

Bunan Gega Village Library

At the Federal Government of Malaysia’s level, funding for a number of public library programmes has been made available to the Sarawak State Government for many years through the National Library of Malaysia (NLM). One of the NLM's roles is to ensure that a nationwide system of libraries which meet national standards is available to the public. In 2005 the Federal via NLM set up five Special Project (SP) village libraries in Sarawak. In 2007, eleven more were constructed and in 2012, one was successfully set up under the same programme. Under another initiative and as part of the Eighth Malaysia Plan, eleven village libraries with advanced information and communications technology (ICT) facilities were established under the Perpustakaan Desa Siber Ilmu (PDSI) programme.

In a separate initiative extending through a number of phases, over a hundred village libraries benefited from enhanced ICT facilities under the Universal Service Provision (USP) programme financed by the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications of Malaysia and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

Federal funding has also made possible the commissioning of a number of mobile libraries, serving outlying areas with too small or scattered a population to justify a permanent library building. Day to day management of the standard mobile libraries and mobile multimedia libraries is in the hands of the MLGH and Pustaka Negeri Sarawak respectively, with the cooperation of local authorities.

What Public Libraries Do

Although the dominant purpose of public libraries is to provide lending and information services for their local communities, their role is broadening to embrace a social as well as educational function. Libraries are becoming the hubs of their communities. They are places where people are free to come and go, to interact with their fellow citizens, or to join in group discussions or events. Public libraries are for people of all ages, of all backgrounds and of all degrees of academic attainment. There really is something for everyone at the library.

Tebedu Village Library

Collections of books, sets of magazines and newspapers, important government reports and other printed materials are the bread and butter of library operations. ‘Circulation’ – the library jargon for loans of books and other items – is still a very important part of any public library operation.

Behind the scenes, skilled library staff are selecting items for particular libraries from the mass of material churned out by the world’s printing presses, and organising them so that users can find them. Library staff are making sure that as far as possible they are stocking their shelves with the resources from which their users will gain most benefit. They are selecting items in the key languages of education, business, commerce and day to day communication. They may be making some resources highly ‘visible’ through online catalogues. They are trying to add to their collections items which reflect a diversity of opinions, the state of knowledge of a particular subject at the time or the heritage and character of a place or an age. In the workplace, from a modest village library to a state of the art information centre, the library staff use their skills to bring their customers and their library resources together, to help them find the right book, journal article or electronic resource for their needs, or the right piece of information, or the right approach to take to research a topic.

Lundu Public Library

Increasingly information is ‘packaged’, not in print form, but in an electronic medium – a disk to place in a local machine or a remote data bank to be accessed through a computer. The same helpful guidance is available from library staff, irrespective of formats. Often the full text of an item held elsewhere can be rapidly obtained.

On other occasions, items can be borrowed by one library from another – the inter-library loan network at work. No single library can operate in isolation and hope to collect everything which its users might need, so resource sharing is necessary, facilitated by electronic links between libraries.

Of course print-based activities are still very important, and storytelling and other activities based on reading such as book clubs, are very popular. As international research has shown, up to date and relevant collections are as important as attractive library buildings and well-trained library staff in promoting the use of libraries by the community.

Categories of Public Libraries

Town and District Libraries		Village Libraries under the Local Authorities		Village Libraries under the National Library of Malaysia		Mobile Libraries		Total
55		167		38		7		267

Library Authorities

Library Authorities		Town and District Libraries		Village Libraries		Mobile Libraries		Total
MLGH		48		156		7		211
DBKU		1		11		-		12
BDA		6		-		-		6
NLM		-		38		-		38
Total		55		205		7		267

Town and District Public Libraries by Zones

Southern Zone		Central Zone		Northern Zone
01) DBKU City Library 02) MBKS Resource Centre 03) Kota Sentosa Public Library 04) Kota Padawan Public Library 05) Bau Public Library 06) Lundu Public Library 07) Sematan Public Library 08) Kota Samarahan Public Library 09) Simunjan Public Library 10) Serian Public Library 11) Sri Aman Public Library 12) Engkilili Public Library 13) Lubok Antu Public Library 14) Betong Public Library 15) Sebuyau Public Library 16) Saratok Public Library 17) Kabong Public Library 18) Roban Public Library		01) Sarikei Public Library 02) Bintangor Public Library 03) Kanowit Public Library 04) Julau Public Library 05) Pakan Public Library 06) Sibu Jaya Public Library 07) Sibu Public Library 08) Sibu Public Library, Sukun Branch 09) Sibu Public Library, Grand Heights Branch 10) Kapit Public Library 11) Song Public Library 12) Belaga Public Library 13) Selanggau Public Library 14) Mukah Public Library 15) Dalat Public Library 16) Belawai Public Library 17) Matu Public Library 18) Daro Public Library 19) Igan Public Library 20) Durin Public Library		01) BDA Public Library 02) BDA Public Library, Kidurong Branch 03) BDA Public Library, Tatau Branch 04) BDA Public Library, Sebauh Branch 05) BDA Public Library, Jepak Branch 06) Bekenu Public Library 07) Batu Niah Public Library 08) Miri Public Library 09) Miri Public Library, Taman Tunku Branch 10) Miri Public Library, Piasau Branch 11) Miri Public Library, Lutong Branch 12) Marudi Public Library 13) Beluru Public Library 14) Long Lama Public Library 15) Limbang Public Library 16) Lawas Public Library 17) Sungai Plan Public Library

The Mobile Libraries

01) Kuching Mobile Library 02) Kota Samarahan Mobile Library 03) Sri Aman Mobile Library 04) Sarikei Mobile Library

05) Sibu Mobile Library 08) Mukah Mobile Library 07) Miri Mobile Library

Village Libraries under the Local Authorities

01) PD Kampung Biawak 02) PD Kampung Bokah 03) PD Kampung Raso II 04) PD Kampung Sebako 05) PD Kampung Opar 06) PD Kampung Stenggang 07) PD Kampung Daun 08) PD Kampung Apar 09) PD Kampung Suduh 10) PD Kampung Stass 11) PD Telok Melano 12) PD Kampung Pueh 13) PD Kampung Jantan 14) PD Kampung Telaga Air 15) PD Kampung Paroh/Sejijak 16) PD Kampung Matang 17) PD Kampung Kolong II 18) PD Kampung Segedup 19) PD Kampung Paya Mebi 20) PD Kampung Bumbok 21) PD Kampung Semaba 22) PD RPR Batu Kawa 23) PD Stapok 24) PD Batu Kawa 25) PD Kampung Asajaya Ulu 26) PD Kampung Asajaya Laut 27) PD Kampung Baru 28) PD Kampung Moyan Laut 29) PD Kampung Rebak 30) PD Kampung Sambir 31) PD Kampung Sampun Kelili 32) PD Kampung Sebandi Matang 33) PD Kampung Sebandi Ulu 34) PD Kampung Tembirat 35) PD Kampung Tanjung Apong 36) PD Kampung Entingan 37) PD Kampung Empila 38) PD Kampung Mang 39) PD Kampung Niup 40) PD Kampung Pinang 41) PD Kampung Rembus 42) PD Kampung Endap		43) PD Kampung Menaul 44) PD Kampung Krokong 45) PD Kampung Sogo 46) PD Kampung Bawang 47) PD Kampung Bengoh 48) PD Kampung Benuk 49) PD Kampung Karu 50) PD Kampung Mambong 51) PD Kampung Semadang 52) PD Kampung Gerung 53) PD Kampung Abang 54) PD Kampung Annah Rais 55) PD Kampung Assum 56) PD Siburan 57) PD Kampung Mundai 58) PD Kampung Simpok 59) PD Kampung Skuduk 60) PD Kampung Stabut 61) PD Kampung Sungai Riset/Mang 62) PD Kampung Pelaman Dunuk 63) PD Teng Bukap 64) PD Beratok 65) PD Tapah 66) PD Baru 67) PD Kampung Baki 68) PD Kampung Rayang 69) PD Kampung Pichin 70) PD Kampung Taee 71) PD Kampung Tebedu 72) PD Kampung Engkuroh 73) PD Kampung Paon Gahat 74) PD Kampung Tebakang 75) PD Kampung Lebor 76) PD Kampung Triboh 77) PD Kampung Sadong Jaya 78) PD Kampung Jemukan 79) PD Kampung Gedong 80) PD Kampung Lubuk Punggur 81) PD Kampung Sebangan 82) PD Lingga 83) PD PNK Beladin 84) PD Pusa		85) PD Kampung Kesindu 86) PD Balai Ringin 87) PD Sungai Menyan 88) PD Pantu 89) PD Kampung Lintang 90) PD Skim Skrang 91) PD Debak 92) PD Spaoh 93) PD Kampung Nyabor 94) PK Kampung Buntal 95) PK Kampung Salak 96) PK Kampung Santubong 97) PK Kampung Bako 98) PK Kampung Gobil 99) PK Kampung Senari 100) PK Kampung Tupong 101) PK Kampung Pinang Jawa 102) PK Darulhana Patingan 103) PK Kampung Sungai Maong 104) PS Tun Openg 105) PD Selalang 106) PD Kampung Jerijeh 107) PD Kampung Paloh 108) PD Kampung Bruit 109) PD Kampung Betanak 110) PD Kampung Semop 111) PD Kampung Serdeng 112) PD Kampung Tekajong 113) PD Kampung Sepena 114) PD Kampung Bawang 115) PD Kampung Jemoreng 116) PD Kampung Kuala Matu 117) PD Kampung Pergau 118) PD Kampung Sekaan 119) PD Kampung Tian 120) PD Kpg. Rantau Panjang 121) PD Sungai Pasi 122) PD Kampung Telok Batu 123) PD Sungai Tulai 124) PD Nanga Dap 125) PD Nanga Ngemah 126) PD Nanga Jagau		127) PD Nanga Ngungun 128) PD Nanga Tada 129) PD Nanga Machan 130) PD Kampung Rassau 131) PD Bawang Assan 132) PD Jakar 133) PD Kampung Penasu 134) PD Kpg. Muara Lebaan 135) PD Oya 136) PD Balingian 137) PD Nanga Bangkit 138) PD Nanga Engkuah 139) PD Nanga Temalat 140) PD Nanga Entawau 141) PD Nanga Mujong 142) PD Ulu Teru 143) PD Desa Long Jegan 144) PD Long Bemang 145) PD Long Bedian 146) PD Long Miri/Pelutan 147) PD Long Laput 148) PD Long Kevok 149) PD Long San 150) PD Long Loyang 151) PD Long Panai 152) PD Long Terawan 153) PD Bario 154) PD Kampung Gadong 155) PD Kampung Talahak 156) PD Kpg. Pahlawan 157) PD Batu Danau 158) PD Nanga Mendamit 159) PD Long Napir 160) PD Ba'Kelalan 161) PD Long Tuma 162) PD Puru Sia 163) PD Trusan 164) PD Sundar 165) PD Kampung Aru 166) PD Kpg. Awat-Awat 167) PD Kpg. Kuala Lawas

Village Libraries under the National Library of Malaysia

01) PD Bandar Baru Semariang 02) PD Taman Sepakat Jaya 03) PD Taman Palma Indah 04) PD Hajah Sena Bugo 05) PD Taman Sri Permai 06) PD Taman Cahaya Indah 07) PD Samar Indah 08) PD Stakan Jaya 09) PD Taman Sri Muhibah 10) PD Kampung Keranji 11) PD Taman Duranda Mas 12) PD Kampung Bunan Gega 13) PD Kampung Semera 14) PD Kampung Meludam 15) PD Kampung Pusa 16) PD Kampung Sepinang 17) PD Beladin 18) PD RPR Taman Harmoni 19) PD RGC Layar 20) PD Kampung Rajang		21) PD Tanjung Manis 22) PD Kampung Pantray 23) PD Kampung Jemoreng 24) PD Taman Susur Jambu Indah 25) PD Taman Muhibbah Indah 26) PD Kampung Teh 27) PD Taman Ixora Indah 28) PD Skim Tunoh 29) PD Sungai Asap 30) PD Kampung Tegageng 31) PD Kampung Puyut 32) PD RPR Batu Biah 33) PD Pabahanan 34) PD Kampung Meritam 35) PD RPR Lawas 36) PD Masjid Darul Ibadah 37) PD Taman D'Everglades 38) PD Kampung Kpg. Bahagia Jaya Teku