Keeping books

In previous columns, I have tackled the question of the Macau government’s relentless – if sometimes hectic – efforts to formulate and accommodate the planning and development of new urban projects on the peninsula. I want to again raise the case of the Central Library, because I believe Macau is once more on the threshold of a moment that could redefine its identity.
Last week left no doubt that the Central Library is a subject dear to Macau residents’ hearts. Local architects expressed their opinions on the administration’s decision to accept new proposals for renovating the old court building. Vice-President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Chan Peng Fai, talked to residents on the radio. And people voiced their concerns about the budget, the conditions for the new public tender, and just what it is that makes a library a library: its content. Mr Chan stated that there are plans to invest in the acquisition of more material, expanding the library’s existing collection. This is indeed a promising commitment among all the latest controversies, and it seems to be the only point that easily attracts consensus. The fact that residents and the government have been vocal in the media in order to expose and question the various steps involved in the process, is a sign of good will and citizenship, to use the precise word.
In fact, this being good old Macau, residents have legitimate reasons – and history – for being concerned about the ways in which money will be allocated. It is only natural that they be vigilant and demand accountability from their representatives. Moreover, public participation suggests that people are interested in city affairs others than gambling. No doubt, gambling remains at the core of Macau’s economy, and so it matters. Residents understand and benefit directly or indirectly from this fact: an expansive job market, handsome revenues that enable ambitious projects such as the Central Library to materialize in the first place, and new exquisite facilities – restaurants, bars, and malls – that they have embraced. Benefits aside, however, casinos have also brought material excess to the city, or so I have been told, triggering a degree of displeasure with the state of the city and the powers that be. Whereas the number of lavish casino-hotels has become overwhelming, I believe there is no such thing as too much culture. This makes the library an excellent opportunity for the government to show what it is made of.