Yap, New Home of the MicSem Library
Yap. That mysterious state, home to legendary masters of magic and artisans of spells, known for its people who keep to themselves, a population divided between the Yapese and those of the surrounding atolls, who speak completely different languages and observe other customs.
On May 1st, a few dozen of us gathered at Yap Catholic High School to attend the formal opening of the new Micronesian Seminar library. The library, once the pride and joy of the institution after which it is named, contains not just paper documents like books and articles, but a remarkable collection of images (photos and videos) that date back to the 19th century. As a bonus, the library also boasts a collection of music that numbers 20,000 pieces—everything from ancient chants and dance music to modern love songs—all in island languages. You’ll have to forgive me for beating my chest about a library that I regard as the best on Micronesia, anywhere in the world.
The library has had a winding journey over the course of its history, as I reminded those who attended the ceremony: from our seminary in Maryland in 1969 to Xavier High School (in a few cardboard cartons); from Chuuk to Pohnpei, back to Xavier, and recently to Yap (in ship containers); and onward to anyone who needs its help in the future (via the cloud).
The new library building on the high school campus is beautifully designed and spacious enough to display many of the old artifacts that MicSem has added to its collection along the way. The equipment that will soon be available guarantees that the librarians will be able to copy and send whatever a distant customer needs. The enhanced MicSem library website that will soon allow people to search through the collection will be completed and launched soon. Even now, the website at www.micsem.org offers an overview of the library and its history.
It’s impossible to thank everyone who has contributed to the library over the years, but a few standouts were with us for the short ribbon-cutting ceremony. In addition to our long-time librarian, Melba Veloso, our friend and mentor Ed Petteys, who introduced us to the wonders of the computer forty years ago, was present. So was Neil Mellon, who provided much of the generous support that allowed us to make the transition to Yap, and Fr. Rich McAuliff, who made the change work. Jason Aubuchon, who has been the driving force behind the digital vision of MicSem, playing a pivotal role in shaping the online future of the library and its resources, was unable to make it to Yap, but we toasted him afterward. Then there were the former students of mine, some of them traditional chiefs, and a group of others living on the island who provided their own warm welcome—Yapese-style, of course.
The rest of my four-day stay in Yap involved revisiting the mystical sites that charmed me so many years ago. Stopping in to visit old stores, offices, and villages, marveling at how they had changed over the years but still triggered marvelous memories, I began to appreciate even more deeply the purpose of the library we had just dedicated. It wasn’t just a grand storehouse for materials; it was a tool for helping people understand and treasure their own transformation over the ages.
