The School of Natural and Physical Sciences at the University of PNG has found an innovative way to make important information available to the public.
In partnership with long serving CHM, the two are shifting from hardcopy to digital, made available on a memory chip.
This was an understanding facilitated through Paradise Publishing House.
CHM has been working on this three-in-one format for the last two years in an effort to build up the country’s music scene.
An application is preloaded on this chip, which also comes ready with an SD adaptor and USB adaptor.
John Kasaipwalova, acting manager, at UPNG Press and Bookshop, saw that this option will also benefit literature.
A few discussions led to the launch of the first eight books, digitally translated and made readily available for any electronic gadget.
These books, written by PNG authors, are based on science aspects in the country, mostly about issues affecting PNG like climate change, atmospheric oceans and sustainable development.
These books are relevant to all higher institutions.
And being digitalised means it can be widely distributed, given the cheap cost and airfreight involved.
One chip can have up to 10 digital books loaded on, and given the recommended price of K50 per chip, shows the obvious difference where 10 hardcopies may cost one person thousands of kina.
“So basically, it’s reaching out to helping Papua New Guineans have access to books at cheaper rates,” said Professor Chalapan Kaluwin, acting executive dean, SNPS.
Chalapan, who is also an author to one of the books launched, said the partners at the moment are working on copyrights for security purposes.
In the meantime, two provincial governments – New Ireland Provincial Government and the East Sepik Provincial Government – have already placed orders for 500 copies each.