A Quiet Presence!

WrICE Residency in Philippines 2017

Who would have thought the work I did in the prison space would end up in some of the best libraries in the world? Imagine the voices and words of Buimo prisoners and warders are read and heard all over the world, outside the confines of the prison space!

I helped to facilitate the writers’ workshop in Buimo Prison in Lae that led to the publication of A Turning Point: Buimo Prison Writers. It is now kept in the National Library of Australia, University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Michigan, Universitatsbiblioteck Johann Christian Senckenberg, Zentralbibilotheck—Franfurt/Main, German, HCL Technical Services Library of Harvard College Library (USA) and Harvard University, USA.

More than 10 books published since 1991 are now found in libraries all over the world. I wonder how many libraries in PNG hold copies of my books? All information gathered here on the books and where they are from © 2010 OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. 

My first poetry collection, Lomo’ha I am, in spirits’ voice I call: 1984-1991 published by the South Pacific Creative Arts Society, USP (Fiji) is now held in these libraries around the world: Avondael Coll-Sydney Campus, Cooranbong NSW, Australia, National Library of Australia, University of Wollongong Library (Australia), Manukau Institute of Technology Library (Auckland, New Zealand), Alexander Turnbull Library—National Library of New Zealand, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Library (New Zealand), University of Canterbury, Central Library (my alma matta), Brigham Young University—Hawaii, University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Oregon Libraries, University of Victoria Libraries, British Columbia, Canada, University of California, San Diego, USA, Starts-und Universitatsbibliothek Hamburg Car von Ossietsku, Hamburg, German, Universitatsbibliothek Heidelberg, Germany, Universitatsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg, Zentralbibliotheck, Frankfurt/Main, German, Universitatsbibliothek Leiden—Leiden University Library, Netherland, University of Pittsburg Library, USA, Cornell University Library, Ithaca New York, USA, The British Library, St Pancras, London, United Kingdom, Colombia University in the City of New York, New York USA, and Medgar Evers College Charles Evans Innis Memorial Library, Brooklyn, New York, USA.     

The second collection of poems Hembemba: Rivers of the Forest (2000) is held in 29 libraries around the world: Australian National Library, National library of Australia, University of Wollongong Library, University of Adelaide Library Barr Smith Library: University of Adelaide Libraries, Australia, State Library of Australia, Melbourne, Australia, Auckland Libraries, New Zealand, University of Auckland General Library, Auckland, New Zealand, Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Massey University Library, Palmerston North, New Zealand, Porirua Public Library, Porirua, New Zealand, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Library, Wellington, New Zealand, University of Canterbury, Central Library, Christchurch, New Zealand, Brigham Young University-Hawaii Joseph F. Smith Library, Hawaii, USA, University of Hawaii at Manoa Library, USA, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California, USA, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene Oregon, USA, University of California, Los Angele, California, USA, University of California San Diego Library, California, USA, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Michigan, USA, University of Edinburgh-Main Library, Edinburg, United Kingdom, University of Pittsburg, PA, USA, University of York, United Kingdom, The British Library, St Pancras, London, UK, University of London, School of Oreintal and African Studies, London, UK, Library of Congress, Washington, DC, USA, Colombia University in the City of New York, New York, USA, and Yale University Library, New Haven, CT, USA.

Wow, I have never dreamt that my name and my work will find a permanent place in these prestigious libraries around the world. These libraries have brought this humble name to the spaces that are visited by so many people I have never met at all.

I have a quiet presence in the highly guarded libraries of the world. The Institute of Pacific Studies, USP, Fiji published the second collection of poems in 2000. It remains an all time popular title to date. During the preparation for publication of this book, a blind reviewer rejected this book arguing that I did not know how to write poetry.  I have no idea what the reviewer was referring to as the basis for rejecting this collection.

Transitions and Transformation: Literature, Politics, and Culture is found in only four libraries around the world. It is the main book that is selling out in Papua New Guinea. Since its publication it has been reprinted many times because it is a textbook in “Literature and Politics”, course I teach at the University of Papua New Guinea. I have earned some money from the sales of this book on Amazon.com and at the University of Papua New Guinea Bookshop. The libraries with this book are the National Library of Australia, Canberra, Australia, University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of California, San Diego Library, San Diego, California, USA, and the University of Michigna, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

The third collection of poems, A Rower’s Song is yet to appear somewhere in the world. Maybe it is lost in the under currents of Oceania. Maybe it is still rowing to distant shores. All I know is that this collection is sold out in Papua New Guinea.

The bilingual collection of poems Detwan How is held in these libraries around the world: National Library of Australia, ACT, Australia, University of Hawaii at Manoa Hamilton Library, University of California, San Diego, California, USA, Zentraibibliotheck Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Detwan How is the forth collection of poems I published in 2012. I have since then moved on to other genres of writing.

Acknowledging the success of these books helps remind me that my work is read all over the world. My reputation as a writer precedes me in all aspects. I am known all over the world because my books are found in some of the best libraries in the world.

“Think about it. Your natural inclination is always to improve your score. If you were to keep a score on the five things that would advance your personal and professional objectives the most, imagine how motivated you would be each time the numbers improved in your favor” Jack Canfield.

The first novel, Land Echoes is held in libraries that have special interests in the Pacific or Pacific Studies. These include Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia, National Library of Australia, Canberra, ACT, Australia, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Library, Victoria, Wellington, New Zealand, University of Hawaii at Manoa Hamilton Library (special Pacific Collection), and the US San Diego Library, University of California, San Diego, California, USA.  The novel is picking up sales slowly, but seems to missing in my personal collection.

The Unpainted Mask (2010) the first and only collection of short stories has made its own mark. It is held in these libraries around the world: Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia, National Library of Australia, Canberra, ACT, Australia, Universite de la Polynesie Francaise, Faa’a Tahitti, French Polynesia, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii, USA, University of California San Diego Library, California, USA, University of Michigan, Michigan, USA, Universitatsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg, Zentralbibliotheck, Frankfurt/Main, Germany, Library of Congress, Washington, DC, USA, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, USA, Princeton University Library, Princeton, NJ USA, HCL Technical Services, Harvard College Library, Cambridge, MA, USA, and Ralph Pickard Bell Library, Mount Allison University Libraries and Archives, Sackville, NB Canada.

The best part of this project is knowing that my doctoral dissertation, Knocking on ancestor’s door: discourse formation in healing ritual utterances and narratives of Nagum Boikens in Papua New Guinea is kept in secured libraries around the world such as Australia National University, ANU, Australia, National Library of Australia, Canberra, ACT Australia, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hamilton Library, Hawaii USA, University of California, San Diego Library, California, USA, and Hathi Trust Digital Library where all MA PhD dissertations submitted in USA universities are held permanently. It is also held in Berlin Germany in the Staatsbibliotheck zu Berline – PreuBisher Kulturbesitz, Hau Postdamer Sral. I’m sure the University of Minnesota USA has a copy in its library on the Westbank campus.

Even the edited or co-edited collections of essays are found in famous libraries of the world. Reframing Indigenous Knowledge: Cultural Knowledge and Practices in Papua New Guinea is found in Queensland University Library, Australia, Australian National University, ANU Canberra, Australia, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii USA, University of Californian San Deigo Library, California, USA, and in the Staatsbibliotheck zu Berline – PreuBisher Kulturbesitz, Hau Postdamer Sral, Berline, Germany.

With Otto Ignatius M S Nekitel and Sakarepe Kamene we co-edited the book Critical and Developmental Literacy, published in 1995. It is found in some of the greatest libraries of the world: University of Sydney Library, Sydney, Australia, Australian national University, Canberra, Australia, National Library of Australia, Canberra ACT, Australia, University of Wollongong Library, Australia, Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide Library, Australia, University of Melbourne Libraries, Australia, University of Auckland General Library, Auckland, New Zealand, University of Canterbury, Central Library, Christchurch, New Zealand, Hamilton Library, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Reed College Library, Oregon, USA, UC Berkeley Libraries, Berkeley California, USA, University of California, North Regional Library Facility, Richmond California, USA, University of Michigan, USA, University of Pittsburgh, PA USA, Library of Congress, Washington, DC USA, Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries, New York, USA, and Sidney Martin Library UWI – Cave Hill, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Bridgetown, Barbados.

This piece is more than 1000 words because I wanted to document the success of my books and where they are found in the world. In this blog I also lists each title I have written or edited or co-edited.

The success of a writer is measured by the success of the works. The libraries listed here are associated with universities and research programs in universities around the world. It is clear the books are held in familiar regions and in important collections of libraries in Australia, New Zealand, and USA, especially in Canberra, Wellington, Hawaii, and California.  

The one single library I hope will carry all my books is the Library of Congress, Washington, DC USA. Right now it does not have all my books published over the years.

This blog appearing previously as The Window is also listed on the online library access of State Library of NSW, Sydney, Australia, National Library of Australia, and State Library of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.

I have since then rebranded the blog as “Safla Rama” in Nagum Boiken language translated into English as Fern Ridge.

In Success Principle 21 Jack Canfield speaks about keeping scores of successes. I am keeping the scores on the successes of my books.  JC says: “Well, successful people keep the same kind of measurements. They keep a score of exciting progress, positive behavior, financial gain…anything they want more of.”