PUC Library…Their Commitment to Excellence

September 3, 2010, 12:10 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

  

PUC Library

 

American Corner area of the Library

There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.
~ Walt Disney ~      

The PUC Library is dedicated to helping the university to achieve its goals of providing high-quality academic study and research. Located on the second floor of PUC’s South Campus, the library plays an important role in the community by promoting reading and providing library services to PUC’s students as well as the general public.    
The library’s collection includes books, magazines, journals, newspapers, audio-visual materials, and electronic resources. Audio-visual equipments consisting of CD, VCD, and DVD players are available for use. Electronic resources can be accessed through the library’s website and includes databases, web directories, and e-texts. Internet for research purposes is available free of charge. Library tours are available upon request. “PUC, Pannasastra University of Cambodia, is a private university, but its library, staffed by professional librarians, is open for everyone. We try our best to offer our patrons friendly service and an enjoyable learning experience, and hope they will return,” stated Kolap Mao, Director of Library System.    
The U.S. Library of Congress Classification System is the library classification system used by PUC. This system organizes books and materials by subject. In addition, an online catalogue is available to make it easy for users to search the library collection. Kolap stated, “The library staff is striving to bring about international standards in management, service provision, and operation of the library.” The library’s print resources are regularly updated, thanks to the generous ongoing donations from several organizations such as; California State University Dominguez Hills, Long Beach, and Fullerton, United Nations Development Programme, Asia Foundation, and the Embassy of India.    
The addition of the American Corner, which includes a diverse collection of books and audio-visual materials about the U.S., has further enhanced the educational resources. The American Corner host speakers, workshops and meetings, and serve as venues for locally generated programs such as American film screenings, English club, and educational advising. There is a TV with a cable connection to access news and documentary programs such as CNN, Channel News Asia, CNBC/UBC, Bloomberg TV, Animal Planet, National Geographic, and the Discovery Channel. This is a joint project between PUC and the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Public Affairs.    
I’ve been at the PUC Library for several weeks now, and have found the interactions with the students to be interesting. Once a week, I would visit the South Campus of PUC, to meet with my team, Kolap and Socheath.  I have a small desk by the entrance of the library, next to Kolap, and I’m on the internet doing research. Students would come up and ask questions, and I would try to assist, if Kolap and her assistant are unavailable. I forget that I am sitting at the “Information Desk” area.    
What is different about this library and the library in the U.S. is that you cannot bring your backpack or laptop bag inside. You have to check your bags outside the library, including staff, because of the issue of theft. There is a Front Desk for users to check out books, but within the last several years, students have been walking out of the library with books in their backpacks, and not checking them out.    
The PUC Library is the first in the city to be fully automated. Other libraries in town charge to borrow the books and internet usage. At PUC’s library, there is no charge for both, and with the comfort of air conditioners, a large reading area with cozy chairs and tables, students and the general public can enjoy their time at the library. In addition, PUC’s Library is continuing to fulfill its “Commitment to Excellence” (PUC’s motto) by providing high-quality academic study and research.    

 When I look back, I am so impressed again with the life-giving power of literature.
If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of myself in the world, I would do that again by reading, just as I did when I was young.
~ Maya Angelou ~