Company Information

I established Multilingual Library Books International as a boutique public library supplier in 2003 with the objective of supplying public libraries with popular, recently published books, in the widest range of languages, at the most reasonable cost. The business is an extension of my 30 year career in public library services, of which an integral part has been the development of collections in languages other than English (LOTE).  

Over a 15-year period, I established one of the largest collections of public library community language resources in Australia.  This collection provided a centralised lending service in 60 languages to over 300 public libraries. A cornerstone of this service was the acquisition of over 10,000 books a year from overseas suppliers, all of whom I have personally met and worked with for many years.  

Multilingual Library Books International is a dynamic company which is continually expanding and developing its services. I have undertaken extensive overseas research, involving visits to booksellers, publishers and wholesalers in all of the countries from which we acquire books, as well as attending international bookfairs (including Frankfurt, Belgrade, Singapore, New Delhi, Indonesia and Manila). A comprehensive network of over 100 overseas-based suppliers has been selected and established, with new suppliers being sought on a regular basis.  In 2006-2007, I have met with additional suppliers from Burma, Mainland China, India, Italy, Korea, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, and Vietnam.  

Books are sourced only from their countries of origin; personally selected, of high quality and supplied at the lowest possible price.  Books written by local (indigenous, national) authors, or translations of international bestselling authors, are supplied. Whenever possible, books selected have been published within the last two years, although the publishing output of a country sometimes limits the number of books in print.  Audio-visual media, including DVDs and Music CDs, are available on request.    

I would be very pleased to provide further information on our company's services or to discuss your library's requirements.

 
Robert Pestell, BSc(Hons), MSc, Grad Dip Man, AALIA, FLA
Director
mlbooks@connexus.net.au 


Current Preferred Panel Supplier Status:

• Australian Capital Territory Public Library Service (ACTPLS)
• State Library of Western Australia
• Brisbane City Council

Potted Biography

Current Affiliations:

• Information Officer, Standing Committee of IFLA Section on Library Services to Multicultural Populations
• Associate of the Australian Library and Information Association
• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, U.K.

Library Experience:

• Director, Public Libraries Division, State Library of Queensland, Australia
• Deputy Regional Librarian, State Library of Tasmania, Australia
• Deputy Regional Librarian, Pontefract Regional Library, West Yorkshire, England
• Chief Librarian, Normanton Public Library, West Yorkshire, England

Select Publications:

• Current:  Chair of Working Party Reviewing IFLA 'Multicultural Communities: Guidelines for Library Service'. Working Party members: Crandall Public Library (New York State), University of Los Angeles (California), Biblioteca Fardelliana (Italy) and Queens Borough Public Library (New York).
• The Public Library Service: IFLA/UNESCO Guidelines for development. Member of a six nation Review Working Group, with colleagues from the U.K., Canada, Germany, Sweden and Armenia. IFLA, The Hague. 2001.
• Pestell.  Mobile Library Guidelines: international guidelines on the design, construction and use of Mobile Libraries. IFLA, The Hague. 1990
• Pestell and Lihs.  What does it cost? Public Libraries Division Costing Study 1991-1992. 13 vols. Brisbane. 1992.
• Pestell.  A History of Normanton and District. Wakefield. Rev. ed. 1999.