of library services* - pnm...universiti malaysia sarawak (unimas) and universiti malaysia sabah (u...

Sellitllr Perpustakllllll

RESOURCE SHARING: DEVELOPMENT OF LIBRARY SERVICES*

AMA:>IAH AHMAD**

A BSTRAK Kalas kerja ini menonjolkan program dan aktivili perkongsian sumber dan

kerjasama dikalangan perpuslakaan dan pusat maklumat di Malaysia dan bagaimana iany a Iclah IIl cny umhang kepada kemajuan dan perkembangan perkhidmatan perpus/akaan di ncgara ini. Program dan aklivili ini berjalan diperingkat kebangsaan samada di sc laraskan oleh Perpuslakaan Negara Malaysia dan/atau Persaluan Pelpuslakaan Malaysia danjuga diperingkat jenis perpuslakaan dan pusat maklumal.

INTRODUCTION

D t is an accepted fact that no one library is self sufficicm in it s resources be it in library mat erial s, fun c ti o ns an d servi ccs . It is the

combination o f people. processes, ideas, experience,

materials and money which constitute to be the resources of a library. The increase in the volume of library matenals and info rmation. the increasing costs of acquiring and processing them. the need

fortrained personnel. siorage space and the increasing demands by users are the main mot ivating factors for libraries to share resources.

Resource shari ng clllail s cooperation and coordination. il brings about greater interaction between libraries and librarians which will in turn bring about grca\cr awarenesS of cOlllmon issues!

problems and finding appropriate solutions. New

ideas will evemually be generated for better service,

beller programs and better budgeting.

In Malaysia a number of resource sharing activities

are going on either at national level coordinated by

Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia (National Library

of Malaysia) and/or Persatuan Perpustakaan Malaysia

(Library Association of Malaysia) and at various

types of libraries. This paper will highlight major

resource sharing and cooperative activities among Malaysian libraries and information centres .

PER PUN

PERPUN (Persidangan Perpustakaan Universiti dan

Negara) is a committee comprising of chief librarians

of all the 9 university libraries, MARA Institute of

P"rn pr~ s..: n t t:d fit lh~ 111 h AS TI NFO Consul tat ive Meeting ~md Re gional Seminar / Workshop on Development of National InlorllHllioll InrrastrLlc l llr~s ,lIl d Services, lRANDOC. Tehran . 3·8 May 1997 . .. Dir~ctor. I cchnical ~"r\'icl.!s OJ\ is ion. Pcrpustakaan Negara Malaysia

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Hakcipta Terpelihara © 1997 – Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia


Technalagy Library and the Di rector-Genera l af

Perpustakaan Negara Mal ays ia. Thc committee

meets on a regular basis LO discuss COTmnon problems, share information and eSLabl ish cooperative prqjects. One af the majar prajects a f PER PUN was the

Malaysian MARC Praject (MALMARC), a shared

cataloguing praject which created in National Union

Catalogue of 480 ,000 records af National Library

and 5 unive rsity libraries. II was the biggest

bibliographica l database in the country. However

the project wh ich started in 1978, was discontinued

at the end o f 1990 when those partic ipating libraries

began to have tbcir own integrated library systems.

Other PERP UN projects include the study on the

price of books and C D-ROM, group purchase of

CD-ROM , CD-ROM Networking, Union list of

CD-ROM which can be referred at Perpustakaan

Negara Malays ia homepage, study on indexing

service by libraries and instilutions in Malaysia and

National Union Li st for serial s. The Unian List

for serials was started in July 1995 and about 30,000

records will be inplll inla CDS ISIS and mounted

an to the Universiti Kcbangsaan Malaysia Hompage.

It is a union list of serials of Perpustakaan Negara

Malaysia and Malays ian universities excluding

Universiti Malays ia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and

Universiti Malays ia Sabah (U MS).

SCOM (Sub-Committee on Microforms)

Sub-committee an Micraforms or SCOM had its

beginning in May 1968 as a cooperative efforl

between Persatuan Perpuslakaan Malaysia (Lib-

rary Association o r Malaysia)and Library Asso-

ciation of Singaporc. However, since 1980 it

ex ists as a sub-committee of Persatuan Perpus-

takaan Malaysia which coordinate microfilming

works among member institutions. Unjversity libraries , Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia, National

Sekitar Perp"Slakaall

Archives, Sabah State Archives, Sarawak

Museum, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and Pusat

Sumber Maklumat Sarawak are represented in Ihi s

sub-commillee. Currenlly 26 Malaysian news-

papers are being microfIlmed by 8 institutions.

Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia undertakes to

microfilm 8 t.itles of newspapers. This cooperative

project not only share out the microfilming work

which would otherwise never been able to be

handled by anyone particular institution.

SCOM operates its activit.ies within the following

scope of work :

responsible in identifying issues and problems

related to microforms.

study on the present status of microfi lming

activities and micrographics

establish contacts and cooperate with those

inslitutions involved in microfilming work at nalional and international level dessiminate information on micrographics study on conversion format

The committee is currently studying on standards

on microfilming which include its processes and

methods, raw material s used , its equipment and

storage and compiling a Masterli st of Malays ian

Microform. Talks and seminars are held to create

awareness among librarians and archivists on the importance o f preservation of library material s. In

1994 a National Seminar on Preservation of LibralY Materials in Tropical Environment was held and in

1996 a talk wa s he ld on Preservat ion and

Conservation: issues and challenges by Dr. Margaret

S. Child, an American Consultant under the

Fullbright Programme . She was in Malaysia for 3

months 10 study on current conditions and practices

of preservation and conservation works in Malaysia



and to provide appropriate recommendations to the

National Library of Malaysia. Following this a

national policy on preservatjoll of library materials

is being drawn lip.

National Committee 011 Catalogning and

Classification

This committee was set up by the Perpustakaan

Negara Malaysia in its effo rts to establish

Se"itar Perp"stakallll

Several other projects are currently being studied

includes:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Malaysian Acronyms

Abbreviation for Libraries

Expansion for DDC Class 297

Authority for Malay Names

Transliteration table for Cataloguing of

Tamil Materials and Indian authors authority

file.

sta ndardi sation in catal oguing and classification Workshops are also held to help cataloguers

particularly for Malaysian publications . The understand the cataloguing standards and roles passed

co mmittee compr ises of ch ief catalogue rs of by this committee. In 1996, a workshop on Library

Pcrpustakaan Negara Malaysia, university libraries of Congress Subject Headings was held for a week

and selected public library and special libraries. for Malaysian cataloguers, documentation officers

and lecturers from library schools. A resource

Projects by National COlllmittee on Cataloguing person from Library of Congress was invited to

and Classification:- conduct the workshop.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6) (7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

Rules for Malay Names.

Translation of Library o f Congress Subject

Headings into Bahasa Malaysia.

Local Subject Headings.

Standard Headings for Malaysian

Government and Statutory Bodies.

Li st of Malay titles.

Guideline for Romanisation of Jawi.

Geographical and Historical Expansion

Tables for Malaysia.

Standard Headi ngs for Govenunent and

Statutory Bodies for Sabah & Sarawak.

Subject Authorities for Sabah & Sarawak

Ethnic Groups.

Sabah & Sarawak Etllllic Authors Authority

File.

BILCO (Committee on Bibliographic and

Library Cooperation)

BILCO (Committee on Bibliographic and Library

Cooperation) is a committee established by the

Persatuan Perpustakaan Malaysia (Library

Association of Malaysia) which among others acts

as the clearing house for bibliographic projects in

the country. It started as a joint committee of

Persatuan Perpustakaan Malaysia and the Library

Association of Singapore but has evolved into

independent committees. However BILCO

(Malaysia) and BILCO (Singapore) meet annually

and discuss common projects of benefit to both

countries. Of late BILCO has concentrated more

on library cooperation by conducting seminars/

workshops in areas of current interest. BILCO

(M) and BILCO (S) are currently compiling a

Directory of Librarians in Malaysia and Singapore

and making it available on Internet.



•

Publication Delivery System

Publication Delivery System (PDS) is a formalised

interlibrary lending system launched on 2 June 1988

with Perpustakaan Negara t,,;aJaysia as a national

coordinating celme.

Its objective is to improve the provision and supply

of publications in thei r original form or photocopies

from national and international sources to intending

users within the country for purposes of study and

research.

Librarieslinstitutions have to sign a Memorandum

of Understanding to be a member of PDS and

registered member are allowed to borrow or obtain

copies of the required material s. To date there are

287 reg istered members who are willing to share

their library materials under this system. Since

October 1993 , PDS is operated on-line i.e. requests

can be made through PDS electronic form. However

with e-mail facilities the PDS on-line requests have

declined and they are coming up with an improved

electronic form. In 1996 National Library of

Malaysia received 1,145 requests for publications

through PDS.

JARINGAN ILMU (Knowledge Network)

With the advent of INTERNET Malaysian libraries

formed a computer network called JARINGAN

ILMU. This was established on 26 January 1994

when Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia and MIMOS

signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop

a library and informalion network in Malaysia. MIMOS is the coordinator of JARING which

provides telecommunication backbone facilities for

Internet subscribers in Malaysia.

The main objectives of JARINGAN ILMU are:

I)

2)

3)

4)

5)

Sekitar Perplislakaan

for MIMOS and Perpustakaan Negara

Malaysia to jointly undertake research and

development programmes to established

linkages between libraries in Malaysia using

the latest information tcchnology.

to facilitate the sharing of resources among

libraries

to enable librarians and library users to

access library resources from remote locations.

to encourage libraries to become information providcr by creating public domain databases

and to allow members of the public to access

such databases .

to facilitate technology transfer in the use

of computer network and developing

databases through training, workshops.

seminars etc.

Being the coordinator of JARINGAN ILMU and to

facilitate Malaysian libraries to access to Internet,

Perpustakaa', Negara Malaysia have provided

assistance to 45 state libraries. and goverrunent

department libraries by installing computer systems

with Ir,ternet network facilities. A series of

workshops on Internet , Internet utilities , Web design and development and Web server management were

held for local libraries not ollly to upgrade their

skills in using the internet but also creating their

hompages and mounting their information sources

according to their core competencies on to the net.



Development of Public Libraries

One o f tbe fu nct ions of Perpusta kaan Negara

Malaysia as provided under the Natiollal Library

ACl, 1972 and National Library (Amendment) Act,

1987 Pa ri lJ SeC/ion 4 (h) is " to promote and

fa ci litate the establishment of nation-wide systems of pub lic libraries in keep ing wilh national standards of provis ion".

Public libraries in Malaysia are run by State Library

Corporations cxcept for tbe state of Sabah (undcr

State Departmcnt ) and Sa rawak (under State

Min istry) and WiJayah Pe rsekutuan (under City

Council). The Director-General of Perpustakaan

Negara Malays ia sits in each Library Board as an adviso r. In additio n. mcetings cha ired by

Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia are held lwice a year to monitor the development of the Jibraries and

discuss issuc s and problems rc lated to their

deveJopment.

The funding of the statc libraries come form two

sources i.e the individual Stale governments and the Federal govcrnment . Since 1992 the Fcderal

government through Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia contributes on a 50 50 basis of their operational

budget. Thi s fund is to be spent on collecti on

development , wages ror recruitment of temporary and contract staff and reading ca mpaign activities . In addition funds arc also given under the 5 year

deve lopment budget for the constructi on and

renovalion of Slate library buildings and branch libraries, mobiles and initial stock of library materials.

Financial assista nce provided are closely monitored by Perpuslakaan Negara Malaysia 1O ensure a balance distribution and development of public libraries in every state in Malays ia.

Sekiltlr PerplIslllktlllll

To date Malaysia has it own network of public

libraries comprisi ng of 14 state libraries, 4 regional

libraries, 97 branches, 204 rural libraries and 90

mobiles (l ,8 J 3 stops) di stributed throughout the

country.

Council of State Libraries Directors

It was formed in 1987 comprising of all fhe Directors

of public libraries in Malaysia. Its objectives are

to establish closer relationship among state libraries

and librarians, discuss common issues/problems and

finding appropriate solutions and to standardise

public library services.

Among projects studied and recommended by the

Council includes Service Norm", Standards for Rural

Libraries and Floor Areas for Public Libraries, and

model Enactment for Public Libraries. The council

is also studying on appropriate standards for the

interior and finishes for a public library.

Workshops, seminars and forums are held to address

specific issues related to tile development and services

of public libraries. In 1996 a Conference 011 Rural

Library Serivces in ASEAN Countries: a new

perspective was organised by the Council, where

20 papers were presented covering areas ranging

from information technology , library cooperation,

standards , marketing of services and services to the

disadvantage. Courses, visits and attachment of staff

are also part of the council 's programme.

Each state library in Malaysia is building up its

state collection i.e any materials published in the

state or about the state. II has been mutualy agreed

that each state would inform each other about titles

pertaining to each state. The state libraries are also

srudying on the development of subject specialization

for each state.



School Resource Centres

School Resource Centres were set up in every

government school to facilitate teaching and learning.

There are over 8,000 School Resource Centres in

ihe country and they are under the Ministry of

Education and their deve lopment is being

coordinated by the Education Technology Division.

Resource Sharing activities among school resource

centres are seen in a number of projects including

Bina Minda (Mind Development), Pus at Sumber

Electronic (Electronic resource centres) and the

training aspect.

Bina Minda was started in 1993 to upgrade the

skills of using of information sources for teaching

and learning, skills for creative and critical thinking

and promote reading habits. A sum ofRMI2 million

was allocated for 5 years to purchase selected quality

books for secondary and rural primary schools.

Books are purchased centrally by Education

Technology Division and distributed to the schools.

In addition each resource centre bas its own book

budget based on the number of student population.

Electronic Reso,urce Centre project was started in

1995 and officially launched in March 1996. 14

secondary schools from each state were selected to

participate in this project. Telekom Malaysia Bhd.

sponsored this project by providing leased line ,

hardware and software and its installation. Under

this project each school was given 14 computers

and a server. Initiall y they are working on a union

catalogue of the 14 schools to facilitate resource

sharing and cataloguing. With the given computers,

students are taught to use and have access to Internet.

If this project proved successfull, it would be

extended to other schools in Malaysia.

Seldlar PerpliSlakaall

In service training for teachers who run tbe school

resource centres are coordinated/organised

periodically by Education Technology Division,

Pusat Sumber Pendidikan Negeri (State Education

Resource Centres) at state level (14 states) and at

district level (352 districts) by Pusat Kegiatan Gum

(Teachers Activity Celllres).

Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program

The Malaysian Technical Cooperation Prograrmne

(MTCP) was launched by tile Malaysian Govemment

in 1980 to promote and facilitate technical

cooperation amongst developing countries based on

the concept of self-reliance. The programme

encourages the exchange of relevant experience,

pooling and sharing of resources and development

of complementary activities. Perpuslakaan Negara

Malaysia is one the government departments who

has been chosen to participate in this programme.

Since 1985, under Malaysian Technical Cooperation

Program training assistance has been extended to

49 developing countries and 247 library personnel

have been following either the Basic Course for

Library Assistants or Library VisitslAllachmenrs for

tbe professional librarians under this programme.

Malaysian Resource Centres

Two Malaysian Resource Centres i .e at the

University of Ohio. USA in 1988 and at Royal

Institute of Linguistics and Anthropology (KlTLV),

Leiden on 9 May 1995 have been set up to support

the study of Malay language and on Malaysia.

The third centre would be set up at the Universi ty

of Victoria, Wellington, New Zealand. An annual

budget has been allocated to these centres for the

G=================================



purchase of library material s related to Malay

language. litera ture. culture and on Malays ia as part of the Malays ian government effort to promote Ma lay studi es and stud y on Mala ys ia among

European. America n and Pacific areas community .

Exchange of Publications

Exchange of publications programme have been go ing on as pan or resource sharing between libraries. Perpu stakaa n Ncga ra Malays ia has

exchanged her publications with 43 overseas libraries.

In add ition p lan is being made to co ntribut e

Malaysian publications to overseas institutions through the Ma lays ian embassies parlicularly those

countries wh ich havc diplomatic and tradc relations

as part of promoting Malaysia and its publications and to rec iprocate book donations received by

Pcrp us takaan Negara Malaysia through th e ir

embassies.

Cooperation With The Private Sector

The private sector in Malaysia is al so playing

its social role in cOlllributing lOwards the development of li brary services in the country . They have

contributed either to/through Pel-pustakaan Negara

Sei4.itar Perpllstai4.aaJl

Malaysia or directly to the respective state Iibaries.

Their co ntribution has Icd to the setting up of

Community Trust Fund and Malay Manuscript Trust

Fund of Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia, donation

of mobile units, setting up rural libraries , rcading

campaign activities , setting up of Hypermedia

Ccntres for children, publication of nursery rhymes

in Multimedia CD-ROM and publication of talking

books for the visua ll y impaired readers. Such

companies include Esso (M) Bhd ., PETRONAS.

Syarikat Mobil (M) Bhd., Telekom Malaysia Bhd.,

Syarikat United Happy Store , British America n

Insurance, Syarikat Park Properties Sdn. Bhd. and

Golden Arches Restaurants (M) Sdn. Bhd.

COllcltlsiOIl

Resource sharing among libraries in Malaysia has

definitely contributed towards the improvement and

development of library services in the country .

Their willingnes to cooperate have brought aboUl

better understanding , closer relationship, mutual

benefits and above all has improved the provision

of I ibrary and information services to all sectors of

the Malaysian community both in the urban and

rural areas.



Seldtar PerpustflAaall

REFERENCES

L Badilah Saad, Shahar Banun laafar and Chew Wing Foong. Malaysian libraries in national development

a country report. Libraries ill National Development: Papers and Proceedings of the Tellllz Congress of

SOlllheaSI Asian Librarians. Kuala Lumpur, 2 1 -25 May 1996. Vol III , p. 39-56.

2. Interview wilh Puan Jamaiah Osman, Assistant Director and Encik Saidina Oroar Samsuri , Assistant Director,

Sektor Pembangunan Perkhidmatan Sumber Pendidikan, Education Technology Division,Ministry of

Education, on 28 April, 1997.

3. Interview wilh Datin Paduka Shahancem Hanoum Mustafa , Director of Selangor Public Library and Chairman

of Council of Public Libraries Directors on 25 April 1997.

4 . Laporan lahunan Perpustakaan Ncgara Malaysia 1995 Kuala Lumpur: PerpuSlakaan Negal'a Malaysia, 1996.

5. Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program (Brochure).Kuala Lumpur: Perpustakaan Ncgara Malaysia, 1997.

6. Pensyarikatan Malaysia: sumbangan sosial syarikat swasta melalui perkhidmatan perpustakaan: kCrlas

perbineangan untuk Mesyuarat Lembaga Penasibat Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia, bi!. 111996.

7. Resource sharing in libraries edited by Allen Kent. New York : M. Dekker , 1974.

8. Shahar Banun laa far. laringan ilmu : challenges beyond. Sekilar Perpllslakaan, bil 23, p. I - 13. , 1996.



of library services* - pnm...universiti malaysia sarawak (unimas) and universiti malaysia sabah (u...

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