The Friends of the UNTL Library Group

Volunteers, Pamela Thompson & Karen Myers, with some of the UNTL Library staff - Nov-Jan 03

A group of individuals and representatives from a variety of organisations and institutions has established the Friends of the UNTL Library Group to assist with coordinating Australian appeal and support efforts.

The Friends Group raises funds and resources and acts as a planning and coordinating body. It organises publicity, provides a point of contact, acts as a source of up-to-date information and as a conduit for communications between the many parties involved in the project, most particularly with the University in East Timor and the UNTL librarians.

There are now branches in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, all established in the last 9 months. It is hoped branches will soon start up in other states in Australia (and possibly overseas). The Friends Group has already received support and funds for the UNTL Library Project from a range of sources.

Through its association with Union Aid Abroad, APHEDA - the humanitarian aid wing of the ACTU, donations to the UNTL Library Project can receive proportional funding from the Australian Government aid agency, AUSAID. APHEDA (Australian People for Health Education and Development Abroad) established the UNTL Library Project in September 2000 when no library facilities existed, 3 months before the University was opened. Donations can be made by cheque, by credit card, via the Internet, or by fortnightly/monthly pay deductions. Make a donation

Role of the Friends of UNTL Library Group

In consultation with UNTL Library staff, the Rector of the Universidade Nasional Timor Lorosae (UNTL) and the Minister for Education, Youth and Cultural Affairs in East Timor, the group will:

• coordinate Australian fund raising efforts to assure the long term development and sustainability of the UNTL University Library by seeking financial contributions nationally and internationally, managing and disbursing donated funds
  
• manage incoming material donations and the delivery of resources
  
• prioritise development needs appropriate to the stages of library development
  
• provide training opportunities for the library’s staff in East Timor and Australia
  
• liaise with the UNTL Library and the National University of East Timor.

Group Structure

A national committee is being established in Sydney, with representatives from the state groups. State and regional Friends Groups are encouraged to coordinate local efforts and to coordinate with efforts elsewhere through the national committee.

Members of the Friends of the UNTL Library Group come from the library and university communities, as well as a range of other organisations and groups, or are interested individuals concerned to assist this important project.

As the Friends Group grows, we hope to establish project groups around specific appeal activities with members utilising their networks and constituent organisations. Such projects would include fund raising, researching and preparing funding applications, soliciting and handling donations of library supplies, resource materials and equipment, coordinating storage and transport to East Timor and organising training and ongoing support of UNTL library staff.

Group Members

The Friends Group will work on many levels so all sorts of skills and levels of involvement are valued.

If you lack time you can be a financial member or you can be a largely inactive member, a name on an email list, keeping abreast of developments and helping out where possible.

Obviously the Friends Group is particularly interested in encouraging prospective members with useful skills and contacts and experience in fund raising would be of great advantage to our efforts.