BUTTERWORTH: Since it was built in 1817, the Penang Library, which is now known as Penang Public Library Corporation (PPAPP), has been safeguarding more than 10,000 rare collections, each with its own significant sentimental value and history.
Librarian Azizah Zainon, 39, pointed out that among them are hundreds of scholarly books, magazines, old photos, agreement letters, religious texts, newspapers and hand-drawn maps which are hundreds of years old.
She said that the collections were materials donated to the library by certain parties and individuals, when the library was widely known as the Penang Library since its establishment.
“All the collections reflect the identity of Penang at that time, and there are collections that are over 400 years old, originating from the 16th and 17th centuries,” she told Bernama when met at the library, located near Seberang Jaya, yesterday.
She said among the most precious items are a Bible published in 1677 and a hand-drawn map of Georgetown in the year of 1877.
“These rare collections in PPAPP are kept in the Penang Special Collection - a special room, supervised by four librarian officers on a rotational basis. In fact, we do not allow any access to the room to outsiders.
“This is to protect the quality of the collections from being damaged, because there are textures of pages inside the books which have rotted and need to be carefully preserved and maintained,” she said.
According to Azizah, the special room is equipped with a tight security system and has a heat and dust absorber, as well as a 24-hour temperature control device that will ensure the room is always dry.
“If anything were to happen to the library, this room will be saved first because the sources and materials will never be found at any other library n Malaysia or even the whole world,” she said.
Explaining further, she said that PPAPP is now digitising selected rare collections onto discs and microfilms, to facilitate historians and any individuals who are interested in using the collections as references.
“As of now we have digitised 60 per cent of the selected rare collections. In fact we will try to digitise as many as possible of the collections that are deemed to have significant historical value and related to the development of Penang’s history,” she said.
She added that the conservation efforts for rare collections involves scanning processes with an electronic scanning device known as i2 Copibook Open System, managed by certified librarians.
“With this, it will not only maintain the quality of writings and photos inside every book, but will also facilitate historians, academicians, educators and students, including interested individuals, to make clearer reference or study of any of the rare collections,” she said.
Among newspaper collections that attracted Bernama’s attention are newspapers from the British and Japanese occupation era, the 1940s and 1950s, such as Malai Simpo and Penang Shimbun (English Language newspapers during the Japanese occupation), as well as The Sunday Gazette and The Straits Eco (newspapers published during the British era) that have been bound by PPAPP. -Bernama
