Surabaya Library Receives 1.000 Textbooks

Komunitas Peduli Surabaya Rek Ayo Rek (RAR) mendonasikan seribu buku bacaan yang didapat dari bantuan lembaga maupun perorangan kepada Perpustaan di Surabaya, Selasa. (dok. RAR)

We have collected one thousand textbooks in one month from several institutes of higher learning in Surabaya, social organizations and individuals

Surabaya (Antara Jatim) - The Rek Ayo Rek (RAR) Community for Surabaya has donated one thousand textbooks to the Surabaya Library.

"We have collected one thousand textbooks in one month from several institutes of higher learning in Surabaya, social organizations and individuals," Chairman of the RAR Community, Herman Rivai, said when delivering the textbooks to the Balai Pemuda Public Library here on Wednesday.

He said Surabaya has promoted itself as a literacy city for many years and the campaign will hopefully encourage city residents to read and write books.

Among the institutes of higher learning that donated books to the library are the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), Surabaya State Islamic University (UINSA), and Airlangga University.

The books are mostly written about politics, military, religion, novels, culture, education and technology.

Secretary of the RAR Community, Isa Anshori, who was also present at the function said the movement to collect books is part of efforts to provide city residents access to more books.

"This reflects the public's participation, as well as concern. Although the city has declared itself to be a literacy city, its literacy rate remains low," he said.

Many schools put up banners expressing support for Surabaya to become a literacy city. "But how many pupils and teachers have written books, with the help of the local education office?" he asked. (*)