NTEU assistance to the University Library in East Timor
When much of Dili, East Timor, was torched by the militia in September 1999, included among the widespread destruction were tertiary institutions such as the National University of East Timor and its library.
The library was housed temporarily in a couple of rooms in the main University building while its future home was being rebuilt as part of the World Bank reconstruction program. It is now in the process of relocating to the new purpose-built library.
Over the last 18 months APHEDA-Union Aid Abroad has been working with National University of East Timor to get this temporary library functioning at a basic level, and is now committed to supporting staff and the ongoing development of the library.
Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has coordinated donations from a number of individuals and organisations. APHEDA is also prioritising funding of the library project as part of its broader AusAID funded development programs in East Timor. Many individuals in Australia have also made generous donations.
APHEDA-Union Aid Abroad has supported two volunteers to provide technical assistance to the University library. Judy Blood, a librarian from ABC Library, went to East Timor for three months to train library staff and establish a system for cataloguing the books. Peter Love, an IT specialist, has just completed three months in East Timor and spent considerable time at the University library training staff to use the ATHENA software for cataloguing.
The University is receiving support from a number of Australian universities, the SA Department of Education, the Council of Australian University Libraries, AusAID, USAID, ACIAR and Portuguese donor agencies. Union Aid Aborad-APHEDA aims to coordinate its assistance with these many donors.