Asian Research Library Series 2 A Catalog of the Asian Research Library Collection of the Literacy Education Materials Formerly Owned by the Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO, 2

This is the second installment of a three-volume catalog featuring materials on literacy education, donated by the Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU), housed at the Asian Research Library, the University of Tokyo.
 
As already explained in the introductory page of Volume 1 on this website, this collection consists of materials related to literacy education projects undertaken by the Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) since the 1980s in the Asia-Pacific region. The collection, comprising 3,487 items from 25 countries, mainly encompasses out-of-school (non-formal) educational materials tailored for illiterate adults.
 
This particular volume focuses on the following Southeast Asian and Oceanian countries (total 1,587 items): Australia (1 item), Fiji (4), Indonesia (340), Cambodia (159), Laos (119), Myanmar (199), Malaysia (81), the Philippines (154), Palau (1), Papua New Guinea (98), Solomon Islands (1), Thailand (229), and Vietnam (201).
 
Although this collection is not currently registered on the UTokyo OPAC, it constitutes a very important component of the holdings at the Asian Research Library. The volume of materials related to Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar in this collection is particularly valuable, exceeding the quantity of existing materials in each country and language (Khmer, Lao, and Burmese).
 
It is noteworthy that it includes materials in the languages of various ethnic minorities in the region. Although the quantity may not be extensive, it encompasses languages such as Kachin, Kayah, Sgaw Karen, Pwo Karen, Tiddim Chin, Mon, Shan (Myanmar), Iban, Dusun (Malaysia), Cebuano, Iloko, Magindanao (the Philippines), Hiri Motu, Barai, Enga, Kâte, Kunimaipa (Papua New Guinea), Lahu, Yao, Lisu, Akha (Thailand), Bahnar, Sedang (Vietnam), and others.
 
Since these projects are aimed at adults, their content is diverse and directly applicable to improving daily life, covering areas such as infant health and nutrition; knowledge of the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; and advancement of women's education. These materials are of primary significance as a foundational source for research not only in literacy education and linguistic studies but also across a variety of other fields including history, society, culture, gender, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and medicine. With the completion of this volume and Volume 3 (South Asia), the entire collection is now accessible, and we hope it will be widely used for educational and research purposes.
 

(Written by KAWAHARA Yayoi, Associate Professor, The University of Tokyo Library System / 2023)