A small collection of local resources began in 1994, comprising fewer than 500 resource materials across two shelves. This initial collection at the college library only contained Micronesian Occupational College catalogs, the college’s Jot This Down Bulletin newsletter, local books, and newspaper clippings.
Over the years, the collection has since evolved, expanding both in scope and volume. Today, it is recognized as a special collection of resource materials about Micronesia, with an emphasis on Palau, including the Pacific region. The special collection also contains print materials authored by Pacific writers. Hence, it is now formally known as the Micronesia-Pacific Collection, or commonly known as Micro-P. It currently contains over 12,000 resource materials, such as government documents, magazines, academic journals, maps, and audio/visual materials.
Books
The books cover a wide range of topics from Micronesian cultures to Pacific art. The book collection showcases some of the origins and foreign discoveries of the Pacific islands through a diverse array of materials. Among its holdings is a small collection of rare books, a few dating back to 1788. Other notable resource materials include all seven (7) volumes of the translated work of Augustin Kramer, Results of the South Seas Expedition 1908-1910; dictionaries and grammar books of about 16 Pacific island languages, a majority of them being languages of Micronesia; 20 volumes of the History of Micronesia, The Pacific Islands: an encyclopedia, and travel guides for Micronesian and Pacific Islands.
Newspapers
Past issues of local and regional newspapers can also be found in Micro-P, such as, but not limited to, Tia Belau (1992-present), Island Times (2005-present), Roureur Belau (1999-2002), Palau Horizon (1998-2010), Marshall Islands Journal (1996-present), Kaselehlie Press (2001-present), Marianas Variety (1999-2006), and Micronesian Counselor Tribune (1996-2008).
Journals and Magazines
There are also magazines and journals about Micronesia and the Pacific in the collection. The collection has current magazine issues of Fisheries Newsletter, Islands Business, and Scuba Diving. Back issues of ArtAsiaPacific, Asian Diver, Guam Business, Islands: An International Magazine, Ka Pili Kai, and INFOfish International magazines are included in the collection. For scholarly journals, there are current issues of Pacific Studies and Contemporary Pacific. Archived issues include titles such as Asia Pacific Viewpoint, Asian Pacific Economic Literature, Atoll Research Bulletin, Micronesian Educator, Micronesica, Pacific Science, and People and Culture in Oceania.
Government Reports and Documents
Copies of the National constitution, local state constitutions, Compacts of Free Association, Trust Territory reports, South Pacific Commission Annual Reports, The Pacific Community, Legislative Reviews, Pacific Courts & Legal Systems, and environmental assessments are among the many that fall under “Government Reports and Documents.” State of the Republic Addresses by Palau’s current and former Presidents are shelved among them, including the inaugural address by Palau’s first president, Haruo Remeliik.
Dissertations/Theses
In 1999, local researchers started donating their written works to contribute to the collection. Today, there is a total of 393 dissertations/theses on a wide range of topics, such as, but not limited to, education, medicine, culture, religion, and politics. The oldest dissertation in the collection is one by Francis B. Mahoney titled “Projective Psychological Findings in Palau Personality” which was published in 1950.
Audio, Visual, and Digital Resources
At Micro-P, the collection also includes 512 copies of audio, visual, and/or digital resources such as VHS tapes and DVDs. Video tapes include a large volume of Micronesian Seminar videos. The locally well-known 1968 film, Hell in the Pacific, which was filmed in Palau and stars Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune, can be found at Micro-P as well. Other videos include Guam’s History in Songs, Journeys in the New Zealand Heartland, Pacific Passages, and Storytellers of the Pacific, among others.
Maps
Within Micro-P, there is also a collection of over a hundred maps detailing Micronesian and other Pacific islands. This selection includes maps created across various time periods, with representations such as topographic and aerial maps.