National Library of Australia  - Gateways

ISSN 1443-0568 | no. 72 | December 2004


Assistance to the Solomon Islands

Several months ago the National Library of Australia was approached by the Australian High Commission in Honiara, asking for assistance to purchase books for the National Library of the Solomon Islands.

Selection lists were sent to Honiara to enable staff from the Library to choose material, and $7000 was spent on the purchase of over 200 books from Australian publishers. Many of the books were children’s books, as the Library provides services to students from many schools within the Solomon Islands. The many cartons of books were then sent to the Solomon Islands by the Department of Foreign Affairs, and presented to the Permanent Secretary of the Education Department of the Solomon Islands, Dr Derek Sikua, by High Commissioner Patrick Cole on 21 September.

The donation of books coincided with the reopening of the National Library after a period of closure for renovations.

The assistance of Nerida King at the High Commission in Honiara in facilitating the donation and organising transport, and of staff at James Bennett Pty Ltd who coordinated the purchase of titles from many publishers, is much appreciated.
—Sandra Henderson, Research Manager, Coordination Support

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