Public Libraries ROCK - Worldwide!

As a newcomer to Bali, who might be planning to remain on the island for a month, a year, or longer, where could you go to find out about the island, learn its culture, locate activities for your children, take language lessons in Indonesian, Balinese, or English (the three main languages spoken on the island), read a vertical file about NGO projects that have been completed by grant recipients, check out novels to read, take a dance class, watch a play being performed, and about a hundred other educational activities? Duh...at the public library, of course!

Worldwide, public libraries are where it's at, folks! True in Ubud, true in Tuscaloosa. Bali's non-profit, membership library is called Pondok Pekak Library and Learning Centre, and it represents a non-computerized version of many of the things I hope for in Tuscaloosa...like generous meeting space for programming, and a great location next to the city's main soccer field. Its promotional literature says that Pondok Pekak means "grandfather's little resting house in the rice field."

If you are a professional librarian who works in community outreach (umm....that'd be you, Jana) please find this institution by messaging librarypondok@yahoo.com.

Other totally awesome literacy activities in Bali...
www.ubudwritersfestival.com

Having great meeting space and language lessons on site, the library does lack computerized OPAC systems for circulation, but still needs to keep people from taking out books and never returning them. In Indonesia, that means an appeal to any concerns people might have regarding their eternal destiny...

Elizabeth, you might want Jerry to try this; it actually seems to be effective.The sign that's too blurry reads, "Stealing books will result in bad karma. Protect your next life."