An Overview
In the world today, some people have unlimited access to information and knowledge for their personal development because they have access to economic well-being. Knowledge is passed on through many forms, human to human dialogue, books, computers, television and other sources. This Persatuan’ initiative is simple, just getting a person or a child to send a book that they have read to another person or child who does not have one. PSBM believes that Individuals and sponsors, through their contribution can make a change and a serious attempt to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and now the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly, universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowerment of women, ensuring environmental sustainability, developing a global partnership for the long-term aim of eradicating poverty and hunger by enabling employability through access to knowledge from education and promotion of literacy.
Why Collect Books? Why not recycle them? What is the environmental damage?
Books usually cannot be recycled along with other paper recycling because of the glue that is used to bind them. Therefore most books usually end-up in Landfills – creating more environmental degradation. This waste of a good resource is not productive, neither is a good economic practice. But we currently have very limited immediate alternatives for recycling books, thus there is much scope for iintroducing a new coordinated book collection and distribution process and system.
In addition, the environmental cost of throwing away books is high. At the start of production there is a huge cost. Books are made from wood pulp which requires a huge amount of resources – time and resources to grow trees; energy to produce books; and printing materials (often toxic) to fill the content of the book. All these means of production are wasted when a good book is thrown away and not reused.
The History of A Book for A Friend Society Malaysia (ABFAFSM) and Persatuan Sahabat Buku Malaysia (PSBM)
A Book For A Friend International Society was conceived in the UK in early 2009, and has since been focusing on the development of a global network of national chapters. ABFAFI Society is a fluid and growing organisation that is able to develop without political or religious influence or individual interest.
The cause is of paramount importance and no individual involved will be entitled to use the organisation for their personal gain. The organisation and development of a 5 year work plan, in 2009 in Timor-Leste
applications will be made to relevant United Nations organisations to receive consultative status.
However the International board made a strategic decision to move from UK to Malaysia in 2011, one of the recipient countries for the intended book/reading material transfer and sharing goal of the International Society. A Malaysian Society was formed as A Book for A Friend Society Malaysia (ABFAFSM) and registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) Malaysia in May 2011, with the registration no: 2281-11-NSE. In 2016 the Society was re-registered with the ROS Malaysia using its name in Bahasa Malaysia, the national language of the country, Persatuan Sahabat Buku Malaysia (PSBM) with the registration number of PPM:-033-10-10052016 with its operating office at AOC-RazonHouse, No. 6 4/14, Rasah Kemayan, Seremban 2, Negeri Sembilan, 70300, Malaysia.