Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei

• Name — Language and Literature Bureau • Native Name — Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka • Native Name A — ديوان بهاس دان ڤوستاک • Motto — بهاس جيوا بڠسا Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa (The Language is the Soul of the Nation) • Jurisdiction — Government of Brunei • Headquarters — Jalan Pembangunan, Lapangan Terbang Lama, Berakas BB3510, Brunei • Minister1 Name — Nazmi Mohamad • Minister1 Pfo — Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports • Chief1 Name — Suip Abdul Wahab • Chief1 Position — Director • Parent Department — Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports • Website — www.dbp.gov.bn

The establishment of the Lembaga Bahasa (Language Board) began with the approval of an ms (motion) during a Legislative Council meeting on 18 April 1960. The motion was to establish an independent body answerable to the government with the function of consolidating the status of Malay as the official language of Brunei, as enacted in the Constitution (Perlembagaan) which was promulgated in the previous year. However, it was later renamed to Bahagian Bahasa dan Pustaka (Language and Literature Section) in 1962. At the time it was established under the authority of Jabatan Pelajaran (Department of Education). On 1 January 1965, it was made into a separate department and eventually adopted the name Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (Language and Literature Bureau). In 1984, the agency was subsumed under the authority of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei operates all public libraries in the country, which include: • Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Library • Sengkurong Library • Muara Library • Lambak Kanan Library • Tutong District Library • Kuala Belait Library • Kampong Pandan Library • Seria Library • Temburong District Library Since 1970, it also has introduced mobile library services, locally known as Perpustakaan Bergerak.