IN Retrospect, a book written by former Gov. Juan Nekai Babauta was selected to be displayed in this year’s annual Library of Congress National Book Festival.
The event is part of Library of Congress’s The Center for the Book program which promotes literary heritage to thousands of festivalgoers and, at the same time, promote the activities and initiatives of the Library of Congress.
The Northern Mariana Islands, according to Joeten-Kiyu Public Library Director Erlinda Naputi, is among the affiliated centers in each of the 50 states, and territories.
“I am proud to say that CNMI is one of the territories that is represented. And we’ve been a member…or part of the Center for The Books for the past, since 2022,” she said.
Every year, Naputi said, the JKPL receives an award and in the award, they get to select which of their books will be displayed in annual national book festival in Washington D.C. This year JKPL chose the former governor’s book because ties in with past events in the nation’s capital as the book tells stories that transpired during his time as three-term Washington Representative. Babauta served for 12 years.
Another good thing, Naputi said, is that Keith Sonderling who was recently appointed by President Trump as acting director of Institute of Museum and Library Services, has been in the CNMI during his time as secretary of U.S. Department of Labor.
Naputi said Sonderling told her during a recent convention that “he wanted to hear more about us.” In turn, told him about NMI’s selection and “we are very humbled to select the book of the former governor, and we are honored to have his book out there.”
Beth Demapan, JKPL technical services librarian and program manager for the Center for the Books said, Babauta’s In Retrospect has been in JKPL since the book launch in 2016, with a very good public review. A lot of students, she said, read the book for their academic studies, as well as visitors bought the book featured under the Pacific collections section of the library.
“It was one of the books we encourage people to buy. His book stands out because it has so much history, and documents timeline, starting from him growing up as a kid all the way to his time as Washington Representative and governor,” Demapan said.
The book is also related to America’s 250th anniversary, whichbe celebrated next year, she said. “This book has a lot of historical importance that’s why it was selected,” Demapan said.
Babauta in a separate interview said, he was very surprised when Demapan informed him of his book’s selection.
“I am really humbled and honored to have my book selected for the Center of the Book which is a coordination from 50 states and Library of Congress,” he said.
“I have always wanted to write a book. I wanted to capture at least a fraction of my experience both as a private citizen and my time in public service. More importantly, I wanted to record piece of NMI history as I saw and experienced it. Otherwise, that particular perspective would be lost for good,” Babauta said.
It is his hope, the former governor added, that the future generation would appreciate and treasure the information contained in the book. It took him year and a half to write.
“Most of that time was spent… on research to make sure that my information is as accurate as possible,” he added.
