Palau, Ministry of Education

The Republic of Palau’s Ministry of Education will use grant funds to rebuild a local library collection destroyed by a typhoon, support host organization planning for the Pacific Islands’ annual library, archives and museum conference, and maintain electronic library infrastructure. One project component will restore library resources to the John F. Kennedy Elementary School, the only school and community library in Kayangel State. Hours away from the rest of Palau, it was devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013. A second project component will address resources needed for hosting the annual conference of the Pacific Islands Association of Libraries, Archives, and Museums (PIALA). The conference is valuable for inspiring commitment to library, archives and museum services, and with the Palau Association of Libraries hosting the 2014 event, many local professionals will benefit. Lastly, grant funds will support renewed licensing for the Palau Union Catalog, which connects collections throughout the geographically dispersed island nation.