Than Byu Zayat Church Library

Background Information

Than Byu Zayat is a small town in Mon State in Southern Myanmar. It is famous for a war cemetery for World War II comrades and as the end of the Death Railway during World War II. Most people engage in planting rubber or rice. As the world has been changing to the electronic age and information age, we feel a need for a good library in town. The Baptist Church in Than Byu Zayat started a small library targeted for youth from the church.

Vision

• To better serve the public with up-to-date information and books so they will not be left behind in the ever-changing world.
• To encourage people to seek knowledge useful in their lives through the public library
• To be able to open it to the general public as a service to the community

Current Situation

The library is currently run by a development committee from church. Several members from church contributed to the library for the operation cost. Many people donated old magazines, books and newspapers. We open the library every Saturday from 6:00 PM till 9:00 PM. A small room hosts a bookshelf and some furniture.

Future

It is our goal to open every day in the future. A separate building is also in our goal. Seed money is hoped to be established in the future for the library. The library committee hopes to inspire the youth with the desire to learn more about the world.

Needs

• Children books in English, picture books because the level of English of the locals is not very great. We want to upgrade their English skills by introducing easy reading materials in English. The target audience is youth and children. One option we have is we could copy some of those kinds from Dr. Chit Maung Library in Insein, Yangon. But we will need some financial assistance for that.
• Some financial assistance for the subscription fees for some Myanmar magazines and newspaper.
• A separate building for the library

Contacts

1. Pastor Nai Aung Gyi, Mon Baptist Church, Than Byu Zayat, Mon State, Myanmar.
2. Min Zaw Oo e-mail: maywaum.mdy(at)mptmail.net.mm
3. Lwin Moe, Associate Professor of Computer Science, Myanmar Institute of Theology, Seminary Hill, Insein, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: 640168, e-mail: lwinmoe(at)gmail(dot)com

This is the picture of the library in Than Byu Zayet run by the loacl Mon Church.

Pastor Nai Aung Gyi at the library

Pastor Nai Aung Gyi, Ah Mai (wife), and Htaw Seng Aung (son)