1965

This year is a moment of history as the establishment of the Department of the Brunei Museums Library as a Special library to provide reference services and to assist specialized research for personnel of the Brunei Museums.

1967

The Legislative Council approved a law to establish terms on the safekeeping and preservation of printed and published books in the country. This law is called the Preservation of Books Act 1967 as stipulated in the Government Gazette of Brunei manuscript VI, Number 3 dated 18th January 1967.

As such, the Brunei Museums Library serves as a “Depository Library” for local publications to gather the local works published in Brunei Darussalam, besides its main mission as a dedicated library in support of the activities or research projects conducted by the divisions of this department.

1967 – 1984

The Brunei Museums Library is also a Material Submission Centre under the control of the “Preservation Books Act 1967”. This Act requires each publisher to submit three (3) copies of their publications issued in this country to the Director of Brunei Museums for reference and safekeepings, and as a national heritage for future generations.

1984-

The Preservation of Books Act 1967 was revised to strengthen the authoritative of presevation of books, hence resulting to the Preservation of Books Act, Revised Edition 1984.

The Deposit of Library Materials Act 1984 has replaced the Preservation of Books Act 1967.

1997

Commencing January 1997, the library services has renewed its borrowing system. Library Users are required to register as library members. The terms and periods of borrowing categories were introduced. This effort has slightly increased the number of items borrowed and library members. Indirectly, it further enhances library services in line with its mission to support Brunei’s academic activities.

1998

On August 25, 1998, the Brunei Museums’s Library had moved to the National Archives Buidling, Jalan Menteri Besar, Brunei Darussalam.

2010

The Library of Brunei Museums Department was the runner-up in the Best Library Competition 2010, category A for Ministry/Department with a library room organized by the Language and Literature Bureau, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Brunei Darussalam.

 

2013-

The Brunei Museums Department’s Library was once again received the Best Runner-up, in the Best Library Administration and Management Competition 2012 in conjunction with the empowerment of the 2013 Reading Culture, Category A, Ministry and Government Department, organized by the Language and Literature Bureau, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Brunei Darussalam.

2015 –

The Brunei Museums Department’s Library acquired its first computer system in 2014 under the e-library project of the Language and Literature Bureau,  Brunei. Under this e-library system, all the manual borrowing and returning services as well as searching were terminated.

Until 2014, the total amount of library collection in the Department of Brunei Museums was 189,985, and it became a specialized library that had the largest collection amongst the libraries in government ministries and departments.

2016-

On March 1st, 2016, the authority for the  “Preservation of Books Act 1967” was officially taken over by the Language and Literature Bureau.