On Friday, June 16, 2017, Ambassador of Japan Toshiyuki Yamada formally handed over a brand new Nissan micro bus to Palau Public Library. The handing over ceremony for “The Project for Procurement of Bookmobile for Children in Palau” was held at Palau Ministry of Education (MOE). The ceremony was attended by Director of Bureau of Curriculum and Instruction, PAL President, Chief of Personnel Management, and related personnel.
[restrict]
Through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), Palau Public Library was granted one micro bus in the total cost of $71,495. Prior to this, the bookmobile program was started by Palau Public Library in 2013, and through visiting elementary schools in Koror and Babeldaob every week, children in Palau had opportunities to have an access to a variety of books. Nevertheless, due to the deterioration of the vehicle, they have been unable to continue the program since 2015.
Accordingly, the new micro bus will now allow children to get library services through visiting new bookmobile at public and private elementary schools as well as preschools in Koror and Babeldaob every day. Furthermore, by increasing the number of school visits, Palau Public Library will be able to provide library services for a larger number of children, and since the new bookmobile has a larger capacity to carry books than the old one, children will be able to have access to a greater selection of reading materials.
The handed over micro bus is hoped to contribute to the better use of Palau Public Library, the only public library available to any individuals in Palau, and provide opportunities for children in Palau to get more access to books so as to gain a new perspective through reading.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Yamada expressed his wish that the new bookmobile would be well used and maintained by Palau Public Library and MOE for a long period of time and that it would lead to further development of friendship between Japan and Palau.
For further information about the GGP, please contact 488-6455 or visit the Embassy of Japan website at http://www.palau.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html. [/restrict]