Public Libraries in Sarawak

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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