REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- In an effort to meet people's needs for reading materials, this year, the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia (Perpusnas) will distribute books to 10,000 village libraries, villages, and Taman Baca Masyarakat (TBM).

This was done as a follow-up step to increase the reading craze of the public. In 2023, reading interest rate scores rose to 66.77 or up by 3.19 from 2022's 63.58.

“This is a new program that we are working on, and we are initiating so that in the early stages it is expected to reach up to 10 thousand village libraries, wards, and community reading parks, each of which we distribute about a thousand book titles,” said task officer (Plt) Head of Perpusnas E Aminudin Aziz during a hearing (RDP) with Commission X of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR) in Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday (17/17) 1/2024).

Through this program, he explained, it is hoped that the shortage of books in the middle of society can be overcome. “Because it's really not the low reading interest of the public, but indeed the availability of reading material for those who can't yet be fulfilled,” he said.

In addition, the selection of TBM as one of the goals of the program is in line with the direction of the Working Committee on Literacy Improvement and Library Personnel to empower the existing reading community in the community.

In addition, it is hoped that the utilization of the library by the public will be further increased by providing collections that suit their interests and needs.

In terms of budget performance, in 2023 Perpusnas budget realization reached 99.16 percent, i.e. Rp 708,257,051,872 of the total budget deficit of Rp 714,273,367,000.

Deputy Chairman of Commission X of DPR RI from the Democratic Faction Dede Yusuf appreciated the performance achievements and the response of Perpusnas to the recommendations of Panja Improvement of Literacy and Library Personnel.

“The program of providing books to villages and wards up to community reading parks is expected to increase the literacy activity of the community and can be collaborated and monitored together so that it is more targeted,” he said.

Member of Commission X of the DPR RI faction of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Fahmi Alaydroes stressed that the level of library utilization among the community should be a concern.

“I think that what we have built, various library buildings with all kinds of equipment should lead to the utilization by the public. Also, this literacy should be sought into a movement that is synergized and collaborated with various parties,” he said.

The existence of the school library and the staff of the school library, which was assessed as still very lacking, were highlighted by the members of the X Commission of the DPR RI faction of the Party of Karya Ferdiansyah. This is a challenge that Perpusnas has to face in solving literacy problems in Indonesia.

“The number of new school libraries there is about 44 per cent of the number of existing schools, let alone the number of library staff who are far from needed, should also be able to be completed,” he said.

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