DBP to hold book fair in May

Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Brunei Darussalam is set to hold the Brunei Darussalam Book Fair 2003 from May 4-13.

It is to be held in conjunction with The Congress of Southeast Asian Librarians (CONSAL) XII Conference, which is set to take place at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas from May 4 to 8.

At the fair, several new local titles will be launched and the fair will showcase locally-written books as well as those by international publishers.

Titles of Information Technology are also expected to be exhibited by IT-related vendors.

Brunei Darussalam is a member of the CONSAL, which was founded in Singapore in 1970 in response to a growing sense of Southeast Asian identity, fostered particularly by the formation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The initiative in forming CONSAL was taken by the Library Associations of Singapore and Malaysia, due to their common origin and long history of close cooperation.

Representatives from the library associations of Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and South Vietnam ratified its first constitution and the first CONSAL participants came from these seven countries.

To date, CONSAL has 10 members comprising library associations and librarians of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

CONSAL holds a conference every three years in each member country by turn. It promotes cooperation in the fields of librarianship, bibliography, documentation and related activities.

Membership is open to libraries, library schools, national library associations, national libraries, library schools and other related organisations in the region.

The constitution of CONSAL provides for national membership confined to librarians, national library associations, national libraries, library schools and other related organisations in member countries and associate membership for libraries, related organisations and individuals outside member countries.

In April 2000, the CONSAL Executive Board agreed on the establishment of the CONSAL SECRETARIAT hosted by Singapore for three years. The primary role of the Secretariat will be to coordinate CONSAL approved projects. Mr. R. Ramachandran was appointed as the first Secretary General of the CONSAL Secretariat.

CONSAL receives financial support from international organisations, governments and firms within the region as well as organisations outside the region, including UNESCO, IFLA, the Commonwealth Foundation and the National Library of Australia. It also carries out various fund-raising activities.