Jakarta (ANTARA) - Acting head of the National Library (Perpusnas), E. Aminudin Aziz, joined the 30th General Conference of Directors of National Libraries in Asia and Oceania (CDNLAO) in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, held from November 15–17, 2024.
"Libraries must have new functions that include community empowerment programs. Government commitment and community participation are key aspects in making this transformation successful," he said, according to an official statement released in Jakarta on Thursday.
At the event, he discussed the Social Inclusion-Based Library Transformation (TPBIS) program implemented in Indonesia.
The program, he said, has provided new hope in efforts to realize the function of libraries as spaces for community empowerment.
He informed that initially, the National Library devised an initiative to promote libraries for all and libraries as a space for creativity with the support of a number of partners. The activity, known as PerpuSeru, took place from 2011 to 2018.
As of November 2018, PerpuSeru has supported 200 village libraries, 50 district libraries, and 34 provincial libraries. The program had a positive impact nationally, so the National Library decided to continue it through TPBIS.
The library transformation focuses on two things: developing libraries for all—to ensure inclusive access to knowledge for all levels of society; and libraries as a space for creativity—creating a space that fosters creativity, innovation, and collaboration.
In the period from 2018 to 2024, the TPBIS program reached 2,691 public libraries in 38 provinces.
The international conference was an important opportunity for Indonesia to gain fresh insights into the role of libraries in providing greater benefits to society, Aminudin said.
The main theme of the 30th General CDNLAO 2024 was "Libraries and Sustainability." The conference was attended by representatives from China, Jordan, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Singapore, Kuwait, Vietnam, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and India.
The CDNLAO focused on three main themes, namely the role of libraries in supporting sustainable development goals (SDGs), green libraries, environmental sustainability, and educating the public about sustainability through libraries.
The conference reflected the cultural and social diversity of the Asia and Oceania region while encouraging collaboration between libraries to create a sustainable future for the global community.
