About Us

Our Mission, Vision and Values

Our Vision: Create the reading generation in Timor-Leste.

Our Mission: To provide dynamic spaces for all people to access information and resources to improve their lives.

Our Values: Respect, Integrity, Quality, Community, Inclusivity. 

History of Xanana Gusmao Reading Room

The Xanana Gusmão Reading Room (XGRR) was established in June 2000 to serve as a safe place where children, youth, students, and the public at large, could access books and resources with a view to fostering a love of reading within the community. Since then, the XGRR has contributed significantly to library development in Timor-Leste and has hosted a range of educational and other activities aimed at nurturing pride in East Timorese culture and promoting skills development.

The Reading Room was established by Kirsty Sword Gusmão, the wife of Timor-Leste’s first post-independence President Xanana Gusmão. As founder and patron, Mrs Gusmão has been involved in its operation ever since it opened.
  
This complex houses loads of memorabilia from Xanana Gusmão, and there is a library, bookshop, exhibition space, audio visual area and internet available. Artwork on display includes those Xanana Gusmão painted while imprisoned in Jakarta.

Board of Governors 

It is the Boards' responsibility to ensure that the Coordinator is doing his job well and that the XGRR is not at risk. Regular board meetings are held, board members participate in events and fundraising. The board members are as follows:

Patron/Chair: Kirsty Sword Gusmao

Deputy of Chair: Joào Martires

Members:

• Maria Isabel de Jesus Ximenes
• Sebastian da Silva
  
• Mara Bernades de Sá
  
• Francisca Maia
• Jenny Coles
  
• Dulce de Jesus Soares 
  
• Natalino Soares O. Guterres 
  
• Ilidio Ximenes da Costa
  
• Del Bovill
  

• Anya Dettman. National Library of Australia
  
• Ina Fautua. New Zealand Embassy, Papua New Guinea     
  
• Patti Manolis. CEO Geelong Libraries, Australia 
  

Staff Directory

Our staff is dedicated, wonderful and will be helpful when you visit the Reading Room. We love visitors. We look forward to hosting you. Our team members are as follows:

Permanent Staff:

• Gaspar Freitas, Manager
• Maria Amaral Guteeres, Scholarship Program Administrator
  
• Arsenio da Costa, Digital Library Assistant
  
• Felizarda Tilman, Finance and HR Assistant

National

• Jose Paulo Jeronimo
  
• Inacio de Loiola Soares
• Jeronimo Fernandez

International

• Hugo Egan (UniVol – VSA)