The people of Myanmar have suffered numerous setbacks in their efforts to modernize since Independence, January 4, 1948. One of the most fundamental is failure of the economy to absorb a better educated population that has steadily expanded. Without sufficient tax base, all public institutions have tended to depreciate, including schools and libraries. The problem was exaspervated when sanctions were imposed by the United States and other Western governments, which has prevented external investment and job creation.
On May 2-3rd, 2008,the country experienced its worst cyclone in memory, taking the lives of at least 135,000 people and displacing over a million. The nation was in crisis; however within a month private NGOs and international aid groups launched projects to help feed, heal, clothe and rebuild villages and towns. But libraries were left out,so on August 17, 2008 I received this e-mail from Dr. Thant Thaw Kaung–owner/manager of Myanmar Book Centre, the son of U Thaw Kaung, retired dean of Yangon University’s Library Diploma Program. In 2001 the three of us created the Myanmar Book Aid and Preservation Foundation to continue projects from my years at Cornell’s Southeast Asia librarian. Now, they had a vivid expansion proposal:
I would like to propose one new project to you. This is related to what we are currently doing. I hope you can recall that we set up “Myanmar Book Aid Foundation and Preservation”. The main reason for creating this foundation was because Myanmar students need good books in English. But they don’t have budget to buy foreign books. I think I explained to you before about National Library budget and UCL budget which are don’t even cover purchase of locally published books.
So, if you are interested and if your donors are willing, you can buy books and send to Myanmar. I can arrange sea freight which won’t cost much. If your donors want to do a long term project to help with Nargis recovery, they can also donate in kind or in cash. I think this is also the way we can promote Myanmar education. Please note that only a handful of students can attend private schools and just a few get scholarships. Majority are in public schools and they need many good books.
This is just a thought and let me know your interest. At the same time, if you donors want to do it on long term basis, I think you should come out and we will have a roundtable meeting with librarians and school principals here in Myanmar.
And we responded…
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