Background

The Hun Sen Library was opened on January 7, 1997 by Prime Minister Hun Sen. Funding for the building was supplied by Samdech Hun Sen and the furniture and fittings were provided by donors from Europe and the United States using locally crafted timber.

The opening of the Hun Sen Library represented a large improvement in research facilitation at RUPP, replacing a little-used library which housed a collection of only 6000 books.

The new purpose-built library has a floor area of 1600 square meters with seating for 200 users and a full-time staff of 23. Currently the library has three foreign assistants – a Technical Services specialist from Australia, a Senior Librarian from Japan, and an Information Technology specialist from New Zealand.Every academic year the library provides a semester-long library research orientation course for Foundation Year students.

The Hun Sen Library also trains library technicians in courses offered throughout the year. In 2006, ten librarians from medical and nursing colleges across Cambodia benefited from this training.

The Hun Sen library has grown rapidly since its inception, becoming one of the biggest cultural research centers in Phnom Penh. It continues to depend on external assistance, and the library thanks its supporters for their generosity.

Books have been donated by many groups, including the Asia Foundation (USA), US Embassy, Room to Read Cambodia, the Japan Foundation, Japan Relief for Cambodia, Book Aid International (UK), the French Cultural Center, the French-Cambodian Association, Agence Universitaire de Francophonie (AUF), Cambodian government departments and ministries, as well as non-government organizations and individuals.

Library equipment and all furnishings were provided by Bilance of the Netherlands. The United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia and the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) also assisted in the library’s development. The United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia continues to support the further training of Hun Sen Library staff overseas. Maryknoll has provided salary supplements since 1997. Since 2001, the Hun Sen library has received funding from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) for the Priority Action Program (PAP). Since 2002, library staff have received Saturday salary supplements from Prime Minister Hun Sen.