Nargis Library Recovery

The April posting by the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) includes our project.  Here is their promotion:

Book Drive: Myanmar Book Aid

Have you got books gathering dust at home you don’t want to throw away?
Why not donate them to Myanmar Book Aid, via the FCCT?
The FCCT is taking part in a book drive to help rebuild and restock reading rooms destroyed by Cyclone Nargis. Phase one involves distributing books to schools in the Irrawaddy Delta.
Bring any good quality books in English or Burmese to the club and deposit them in a specially marked box. But please note Myanmar Book Aid has said it cannot accept books on Burmese politics or proselytizing literature.
Freight charges for overseas donations are a challenge, so books are cheaper to ship from Bangkok and especially welcome. It’s also a way to contribute directly to the people and know that the book-loving Burmese will appreciate it.  Read more at www.myanmarbookaid.org

Photo of gaylord box with texts in our next container shipment for this May. Most of us know nothing about ‘gaylord boxes’ so this offers a view of how 1000 books [plus or minus] fit in one gaylord. 44 gaylords constitute a full 40 foot container. We expect to continue emphasizing childrens books until Thant and our librarians change priorities. Our second largest category is trade books, both hard and soft cover NYT best sellers. Speciality categories make up the remainder, as requested by our librarians in Myanmar. Thrift Books is remarkably supportive of this effort! Now to raise $6000 for a year’s rent of a suitable warehouse in Yangon. Is that an appropriate goal for a Rotary Club?

Thant has opened a third store, this one in Mandalay which can help expand charity book fairs to earn kyats for Burmese texts. Other major cities I hope we will venture into include Mawlmyaine, Taunggyi, Monywa and Lashio–all places with a substantial reading public underserved by book stores. Opening a store is a major venture, however, so don’t expect this to happen overnight…

U Hla Pe inquired about how to make donations and what books are welcome?

If your donation is in US $ and you want a charitable tax deduction, mail your check to Nargis Library Recovery Project, Institute of the Rockies, P.O Box 603, Edmonds, WA 98020.

If you are donating kyats, offer them to Myanmar Book Aid and Preservation Foundation, Myanmar Book Centre, 55 Bago Rd, Corner of Ahlone Rd, Ahlone Township, Yangon.

For other currency donations, please contact us.

All books of quality are welcome, except Burma/Myanmar politics are not currently part of our effort.

SCHOOL # Students Location

Mingalar Kan Thar(Primary) 476 Bogalay city
Maggin Yeik Thar (Primary) 345 Bogalay city
Sandar Dipa (Primary) 80 Nhwe Nyi Naung Village
Yay Kyaw Kan Thar (Primary) 65 Yay Kyaw Village
Dhamma Wisaya (Primary) 47 Khayu Chaung Village
Wibazza Wardi (Primary) 56 Pyar Yay Su Village
Yadana Thiri (Primary) 59 Ma Gu 4 Yard Village
Sanpya Yadana (Ba/Ka Primary) 104 Sar Phyu Su Village
Ywar Ma Kyaung (Primary) 65 Ngoke Kaung Ywar Ma Village
Kyun Hnit Pin (Primary) 41 Kyun Hnit Pin Village
Aung Si Mingalar (Middle) 687 Aung Si Mingalar Village
Tharthana Yaung Chi (Primary) 35 Tharthana Yaung Chi Village
Kan Seik (Primary) 53 Kan saik Village
TOTAL 2113

Mingalar Kan Thar (Middle) 118 6 Yard, Bogalay City
Sandar Dipa (Middle) 19 Ngwe Nyi Naung Villa
Aung Si Mingalar (Middle) 247 Aung Si Mingalar V.
Yadana Myitzu (Middle) 277 Yoke Saing Village
TOTAL 661

PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN BOGALAY & PYARPON TOWNSHIP, DELTA

1] Bogalay Tint Aung Library, Bogalay City
2] Saya Zaw Gyi Library, Pyarpon city

Myanmar Book Aid and Preservation Foundation (MBAPF) was formed in 2001 as an arm of the Myanmar Book Centre and registered as a non-governmental and non-profit foundation.

History
The Myanmar people are devoted to reading, but many lack the means to buy books from outside the country, so we formed a group of librarians, scholars and writers to help meet the needs of our countrymen. MBAPF adopted the motto: “Supplying the world knowledge” to Myanmar. Myanmar has a very good literacy rate, but unfortunately many libraries lack funds to buy foreign publications to fulfill the needs of readers. MBAPF acts as a bridge between overseas publishers, foundations and local libraries.

Myanmar Book Centre (our trading arm) is a leading book importer and distributor established in 1991, and has close relationships with various foreign publishers. Many publishers have sympathy for the Myanmar situation and donate books; moreover, since importing books is difficult, MBAPF accepts them on behalf of foreign donors from international publishers and foundations.

Objectives
MBAPF was formed with the following objectives:

1. Assist in importing donated books and distribute them to local libraries.
2. Develop electronic versions of books, journals and newspapers from Myanmar for distribution to local libraries in CD-Rom format and online.
3. Preserve traditional Myanmar manuscripts, rare books and newspapers to provide free access for scholars, both local and overseas.
4. Cooperate with overseas foundations and institutions on preservation projects and offer access via internet as well as CD-Rom format.
5. Cooperate with overseas foundations and institutions to conduct workshops and seminars in training librarians and archivists.
6. Cooperate with foreign donors to distribute library equipment— computers, photocopiers, scanners, & digital cameras—to local libraries.

Past activities of MBAPF

1. 1996-2001- Digitalize the complete set– Journal of Burma Research Society(1911 – 1978). This searchable database was donated to major libraries.
2. 2001-2006 -Project for preservation and conservation of traditional Myanmar manuscripts sponsored by C-DATS and the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. The digital form of this five-year project is offered free access through the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies website.
3. 2002 – Preserve “Selective works of Myanmar history, culture, archaeology and literature after Independence” funded by the Library, University of Washington, Seattle: a searchable database donated to major Myanmar libraries.
4. 2006 – Coordinate “Symposium for Preservation and Conservation of Traditional Myanmar Manuscripts” held in Yangon, Myanmar. Ten overseas librarians and scholars from the British Library, EFEO(France), USA, Japan and 40 local scholars, archivists and librarian participated to share their knowledge. The papers were published by Tokyo University of Foreign Studies as a monograph under the title: Enriching the Past and distributed by MBAPF free of charge.
5. 2006 Jan-June – six month project: “Continuation of Preservation and Conservation of Traditional Manuscripts,” funded the Toyota Foundation.
6. 2006-2008 – a two-year project: “Preservation and Conservation of Traditional Myanmar manuscripts with special emphasis on Shan and Mon manuscripts.” We digitized hundreds of rare manuscripts which can be accessed online free of charge.
7. 2007-2008 – Donate electronic databases for a one year subscription to Myanmar e-Library website, the country’s portal for online university and college libraries network.
8. 2007-2008 – Preserve and digitize Dr. Than Tun’s collection, Myanmar’s most famous historian.
9. 2007-2008 – Preserve by microfilming a rare newspaper collection in the Ludu Library,Mandalay.
10. 2007-2008 – Assist Cetana Foundation [based in USA] to channel books into Myanmar which are distributed locally.
11. 2008 – Preserving and digitizing Dr. Hla Pe’s Collection, an eminent Professor of Myanmar Language and Literature, retired from University of London. (Passed away in 2007).

Current Activities

1. Accepting donations in kind or in cash.
2. Importing and distributing donated books & purchase from abroad with donated money.
3. Importing and distributing donated library supply materials, e.g. computers, scanners, digital cameras and photocopiers.
4. Preserving books, manuscripts & providing free access via internet and CD-Roms.
5. Arranging symposiums and workshops for library staffs, archivists and researchers.

Board Members of MBAPF
Dr. U Thaw Kaung Chair Member, Myanmar Historical Commission, Chief Librarian, UCL,Rtd
Dr. Thant Thaw Kaung Director Managing Director, Myanmar Book Centre
Dr. John Badgley Director Curator, (Ret.)Cornell University Library
U Tin Maung Lwin Member VP(Ret.) Myanmar Library Association, Librarian, YMCA
U Than Ohn Member Librarian, (Ret.) National Library
U Tin Saung Member Librarian, (Ret.)National Library
Dr. Aung Maw Member Director, iGroup, IT Dept.
Dr. May Moe Nwe Secretary Director, Myanmar Book Centre

From Deborah Homsher, Southeast Asia Program Publications, Cornell University
… We are interested in donating books to the Myanmar Book Aid project you describe, and I’ve been in touch with Greg Green at the library to find out whether he would also be able to contribute. It looks like we might be able to send approximately 150 to 200 books… thank you for organizing the worthy project.
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From Peter Martin, Whitbey Island, WA
Dear John – I read your newsletter with interest. I am a teacher at a Seattle area community college (Edmonds CC) and have several boxes of books ready to ship; we have had trouble raising the money to ship them to their originally intended destination, Bulgaria. At this point, if shipping funds are available, I’d be very happy to see them go to Burma. The books are primarily textbooks, many for limited English speakers. Let me know if there may be a source of funding for shipping; I believe there are 11 boxes.

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From Thant
We have donated Burmese language texts to 2400 students through their libraries in the Pyapon District. These were purchased through funds raised at our Charity Book Fair last week which netted $6000. A portion of that will help pay for delivery of the next container of 50,000 books, which we hope will arrive in late May or early June. Our Fair received much media attention in the press and also on television.

FRIENDS OF NARGIS LIBRARY RECOVERY PROJECT

In recognition of those who have made this project possible, and with expectation that their leadership will attract others willing to take responsiblity for this vitally important feature of the society’s recovery, we have created a list of donors: corporate, family and individuals. We intend to maintain this project until Myammar’s delta libraries are functioning fully, providing the millions of Burmese living in the delta region with books and access to global knowledge.

CORPORATE

Thrift Books–Auburn, WA
Halfprice Books–Lynnwood, WA
Myanmar Book Centre–Yangon, Myanmar
University of Washington–Seattle, WA
Cornell University Southeast Asia Publications–Ithaca, NY

FAMILIES

Jack and Sue Simpson–Coeur d’Alene, ID
David and Carolyn Leuthold–Molt, MT
Dave and Sharon Richards–Lake Forest Park, WA
Sally McConnell-Ginet and Carl Ginet–Ithaca, New York

INDIVIDUALS

Ah Win–Vienna, Austria
Prof. John H. Badgley, Edmonds, WA
Capt San Yu Hlaing–Singapore
Capt Lin Zaw–Singapore
Capt Kyaw Min Oo–Singapore
Capt Thant Zin–Singapore
Capt Peter Tin Lwin Ohn–Singapore
Capt Kyaw Nyunt Lwin–Singapore
Capt Andy Myo Myint Aung–Singapore
Ko Maw a.k.a Khin Win Maw–Singapore
Capt Myint Lwin(Master–Singapore
Capt Min Thein Htike [Nicolas]–Singapore
Ko Win Min Shein–Singapore
Ma/Papa Yu Hlaing–Singapore
Ko Khun Htet–Singapore
Sithu Aung Ba–Singapore
Saw Mission–Singapore
Maung Maung Oo–Singapore
Saw Philip–Singapore
Bo Bo–Singapore
Ko Thura–Singapore
Lya Badgley, Singapore–in memory of Dr. Sein Sein Khin
Larry Dohrs, Seattle–in honor of Margaret Kay Kardell
Kody Janney, Seattle, WA

My congratulations, John. Wonderful to hear about this project.
John Miksic
Singapore
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GREAT GREAT job. I wouldn’t be the writer I am without the library at my school.
Ma Thanegi
Yangon
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John,
The American Center and British Counsel are distributing books to community libraries outside of Yangon, but they are not working in the affected area. Also, they don’t carry out charity book fairs to raise kyats to buy Myanmar language books as we are doing. Their librarians serve on our Foundation Board, so we inform one another about our English language book projects and keep from overlapping. We all seek the same goal–to provide global knowledge to children and citizens of our country.

The Asia Foundation is donating books to the AC, most of which are are brand new and very helpful for those Myanmar libraries they serve; however they are not working in the Nargis-affected areas.

The British Council has established Millenium Centre libraries in cities outside of Yangon where they also offer English language courses. Our projects are not collaborative, but we keep each other informed to be efficient with our scarce resources.

Thant
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The obvious place in the UK to look for assistance, and Thaw’s father will know it well, is Book Aid International in Camberwell in London. Thaw, an old friend of mine of many years standing, will have known it previously as the Ranfurly Library Service, on the Council of which for years I served. I’m now in Sri Lanka but other ILIG members will be better able to fill in more details than I am able here.
Best wishes to all involved as I well appreciate the despairs and frustrations having been involved with similar library situations here in Sri Lanka after the ravages of the tsunami.

Russell Bowden. Sri Lanka, International Library and Information Group http://www.cilip.org.uk/specialinterestgroups/bysubject/international
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I was in Myanmar for one month, especially in the delta area to see the schools and libraries/reading rooms after cyclone damage. On my first trip is our school which we had supported over the last two years, I found only the drinking water tank was badly damaged. The bamboo bridge is still there in the village. Please see my album, of my trip to Bogalay township
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZNGLluzZNWTo4

There are many libraries damaged. You can find photos in my album, #5 to 10, 21 to 28, and, # 56 to 58 are examples. To rebuild the libraries for the people in delta area, I am pleased to be working with U Thaw Kaung and Myanmar Book Aid (http://www.myanmarbookaid.org/).

Now I would like to find out the possibility for funding, like I did for building our bridge last two years ago. Please kindly help us to get information, it will be a great help for us.

Thank you very much for your kind cooperation and support.
With best regards,
Ms. Ah Win
Senior Librarian, Adviser Nargis Library Recovery Project
Vienna, Austria