|
|
|
|
The LAS traced its history to the days when Malaysia and Singapore
were not independent yet. In the 1950s, Singapore was a British
colony, and Malaysia, then known as the Federation of Malaya,
was a British protectorate. At that time, libraries and librarians
in the two territories were far and few. Only a handful of government
research libraries and a few subscription libraries existed, the
latter, as Jean Waller had described, "masquerading'' as
public libraries.
|
The
then Raffles Library, now known as the National Library of Singapore,
and the Library of the then University of Malaya in Singapore (later
known as the University of Singapore which was renamed as the National
University of Singapore on 1 July 1980) were the very few fortunate
ones to receive government aids in engaging the services of qualified
expatriate librarians who came from Australia, Great Britain, New Zealand
and the U.S.A.
These
expatriate librarians were assisted by a very small number of local
staff, none of whom had received any formal training in librarianship.
This group of expatriates and local staff was full of zeal and enthusiasm
to transform ideals into realities in their determination to establish
and improve library services in the country. No sooner, this pioneering
group was caught up with the idea that there was an urgent need for
them to meet other librarians and exchange ideas about their work.
back
The
Founding of Malayan Library Group
| The
concept for the formation of a professional organization for people
engaged in library work was thus mooted and on 7 January 1955
an informal meeting to discuss the matter was convened with 47
persons in attendance. These included full-time librarians, teacher-librarians
and others who were interested in the cause. The meeting led to
a further series of meetings in which a constitution for the proposed
organization was drafted and redrafted. Then on 25 March 1955
the drafted constitution was formally adopted by 36 members including
14 from across the Causeway. That meeting was unanimously agreed
to by those present at the function as the inaugural meeting of
the modest national professional library organization called the
Malayan Library Group. |
The
founding of the national group was an important milestone in the history
of librarianship for both Malaysia and Singapore. The Malayan Library
Group assembled for the first time all those who were engaged or interested
in library work in the two territories. The fundamental aims of the
Group were to unite librarians and to serve as a meeting ground for
the exchange of ideas.
"The existence of the Group also testifies to the fact that there
has arisen in this country a new and growing class of professional people
. . . who are conscious of the value of library services to the community,
and who are banding together for the purpose of seeking ways and means
to enlarge and improve these services."
Economic
and political events that ensued in the 50s and 60s in Malaysia and
Singapore have caused the Malayan Library Group to undergo many changes
too.
back
Under
the Federation Government
| In
1958, the Malayan Library Group changed its name to the Library
Association of Malaya and Singapore in order to indicate that
the Association covered both territories - the Federation of Malaya
and Singapore - since it encompassed membership from the two regions.
However, this had to be dissolved in 1960 because of the Federation
Government's policy not to grant registration to pan-Malayan associations.
The Library Association of Malaya and Singapore was left without
choice but to split into two separate library associations, viz.
the Persatuan Perpustakaan Tanah Melayu (Library Association of
Malaya) which was was inaugurated on 16 January 1960 and the Library
Association of Singapore which was inaugurated at the extraordinary
generaI meeting held in Singapore on 27 February 1960. |
The
merger of Malaya and Singapore into Malaysia brought the integration
of the two separate library associations. In January 1964, both the
Persatuan Perpustakaan Tanah Melayu and the Library Association of Singapore
agreed that there should be one library association for Malaysia with
the Library Association of Singapore becoming a branch. Thus on 16 January
1965, the Library Association of Singapore was reconstituted as the
Persatuan Perpustakaan Malaysia, Chawagan Singapura (Library Association
of Malaysia, Singapore Branch).
back
The
Separation
| However,
the political marriage between Malaysia and Singapore was short-lived
as Singapore separated from Malaysia and became an independent
Republic on 9 August 1965. Caught in this turn of political events,
the Library Association of Malaysia, Singapore Branch once again
reverted to an independent library association when it was reconstituted
at the annual general meeting held on 29 January 1966 as the Persatuan
Perpustakaan Singapura (Library Association of Singapore). The
official Malay name was adopted in line with the Government's
emphasis on using Malay as the national language. |
On
25 March 1972, coincidentally the founder day of the Association, the
Association formally adopted the Library Association of Singapore (LAS)
as its official registered name, which has since been known locally
and abroad.
back
|
