National Library assistance to the National Library of the Solomon Islands
Following several years of civil unrest, the National Library of the Solomon Islands is trying to assess and re-establish public and school library services, and improve their national collection. The Australian High Commission in Honiara approached the National Library of Australia in late 2005 to work with the National Library of the Solomon Islands and help them with this task.
The result has been an order for a range of books to boost collections in the National Library of the Solomon Islands . This builds on an earlier book placement in 2004. The titles selected range from reference works to children’s books, to help meet the needs of a wide range of library users.
The National Library of Australia has also organised for an Australian volunteer to work at the National Library of the Solomon Islands for six months, under AusAid’s Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) scheme. Kirsty Anderson from the Central Highlands Regional Library Corporation in Ballarat attended briefings in Canberra in early March, and is now in the Solomon Islands . Because the National Library of the Solomon Islands has responsibility for school and public library services, Kirsty’s experience as the Children’s Services Librarian in a public library will prove to be very beneficial. This is not Kirsty’s first foray into volunteer work in the Pacific – she has previously been posted to Tonga through a church aid program.
AYAD volunteers are paid a living allowance, their travel is organised for them, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides briefings and supports in-country liaison officers. Kirsty is one of six volunteers posted to Honiara in the current intake. Interestingly, at the reception held in Canberra for the 180 volunteers in this group, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer praised the enormous benefits of the AYAD program, referring to a Cambodian library where a recent volunteer set up a catalogue.
If readers of Gateways are interested in offering their services (the AYAD scheme is for those under 30 years of age) keep an eye on the AYAD website at www.ausaid.gov.au/youtham/ . There will be at least three library-based positions in the next intake (number 17) – one in Cambodia and two in Fiji.
Sandra Henderson
Coordination Support Branch
