THE Vanuatu Cultural Centre this week unveiled a major new exhibition, titled the “,000 Collection,” at the National Library and Archives. The launch event was attended by the Minister of Climate Change, Ralph Regenvanu, along with ambassadors from various countries and invited leaders
The collection features exceptionally rare books, some dating back to the mid-19th century, which are difficult to find anywhere else in the Pacific region. Professor Matthew Spriggs from the Vanuatu National Library highlighted one such item: a book in the Māori language from 1857.
“When we opened the box, there were only three copies, and now we can say one is here in Vanuatu. It is very special,” Professor Spriggs said.
“We decided for our library to be exceptional in terms of Pacific coverage, and it is a very valuable thing to have in Vanuatu.”
Speaking at the opening, Director General of the Ministry of Education, Cherol Ala, framed the exhibition as a timely intervention against the dominance of modern technology, including artificial intelligence. She urged young people to return to books as a foundational source of knowledge.
“Make it a place where they recognize that books are a wealth of knowledge—they shape minds, character, and guide us in understanding,” Ala said.
“If you know your history, you know where you are going. Our national archives play an important role in our culture and history for present and future generations.”
