Jakarta's public libraries being left on the selves<\/p>\n
Leony Aurora and Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Central Jakarta Public Library on Jl. Tanah Abang I was very
\nquiet on Saturday. Just two girls were spotted -- in the
\nchildren's section on the first floor.<\/p>\n
\"The number of visitors is far less than ever before,\" said
\nthe library's head of service and public information, Stanley,
\nwho has worked in the library since 1978, nearly a year before it
\nwas opened to the public.<\/p>\n
The main reason behind the lack of use, he surmised, was the
\nchange of land use in the area from housing complexes to office
\nbuildings. \"Before, we never had to do promotions to get people
\nto come and read,\" he said, referring the library's plan to hold
\nseveral contests this month on drawing, poetry reading,
\nstorytelling and book comprehension, in which participants must a
\nmake synopsis of two books they are required to read.<\/p>\n
Each contest has several categories, mostly from elementary to
\nhigh school.<\/p>\n
The Central Jakarta library offers a range of children's
\nbooks, from Enid Blyton to elementary and junior high school
\nlevel books and magazines. The air-conditioned building is
\nequipped with four tables and decorated with pictures of national
\nheroes and cartoon characters, such as Woody Woodpecker and
\nBambi.<\/p>\n
On the second floor, the adult's section has a good selection
\nof novels and science books.<\/p>\n
\"We plan to computerize the catalog in the future,\" said
\nStanley, without giving a specific time frame.<\/p>\n
A slightly different scene was found at the South Jakarta
\nPublic Library on Jl. Gandaria Tengah, in which more than a dozen
\nelementary-aged school children were seen reading in the
\nchildren's section.<\/p>\n
Most of them were students from nearby Kramat Pela state
\nelementary school, waiting for their parents to pick them up.<\/p>\n
\"I have worked and visited all of Jakarta's libraries,\" Edy
\nWicaksono, a staff member at the library said. \"This is the only
\nlibrary which is open until 8 p.m.\"<\/p>\n
He said from its vast collection, cook books, craft books and
\npop psychology books were the favorites.<\/p>\n
\"But the library gets a big increase in the number of visitors
\nwhen university students are doing their theses,\" he said, adding
\nthe an average of 200 visitors come to the library every day.<\/p>\n
Lia, an Islamic State University student, who is working on
\nher undergraduate thesis, said she often visited the library
\nbecause it provided books that her university's library did not
\nhave.<\/p>\n
\"On top of that, it's comfortable here. The library has a cozy
\natmosphere,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has six public libraries: one in each of the five
\nmunicipalities and one provincial library, which is located at
\nthe seventh and eighth floors of Nyi Ageng Serang building on Jl.
\nHR Rasuna Said, Kuningan, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Most books in the Jakarta provincial public library (Perpumda)
\nare on scientific topics. \"Our library is aimed at catering to
\nthe needs of students,\" said the library's head of service Wardi
\nSusilo.<\/p>\n
Miranti, 23, a student of Perjuangan 1945 University in
\nMenteng, Central Jakarta, visited the library to look for
\nmaterial for a paper she has been working on.<\/p>\n
\"Sometimes I don't find the books I need,\" she said. \"But the
\ncollection here is larger than the library at my university.\"<\/p>\n
Miranti usually takes notes or photocopies parts of the books,
\nbut never borrows them. \"I have a Surabaya ID card,\" she said.
\nOnly people holding Jakarta identification cards can apply as
\nmembers and borrow books in these libraries free of charge.<\/p>\n
Some 5,377 members have been registered at Perpumda since its
\nopening in 1996.<\/p>\n
Another visitor, Mohammad Homsan Dahuri, said it was difficult
\nto find the books he needed. Perpumda has over 43,000 books, but
\nthe two computers to search the catalog are broken.<\/p>\n
\"The librarians just told me to find them by myself on the
\nshelves,\" he groaned.<\/p>\n
Perpumda also has a special section, called the Jakarta
\nspecial collection. The room has a veranda with two sets of round
\ntables and four chairs each and a traditional Betawi (native
\nJakartan) lamp.<\/p>\n
Books on the capital are displayed inside, along with a plasma
\ntelevision to watch videos, from Jakarta history to local art.<\/p>\n
Public Libraries:<\/p>\n
Jakarta Provincial Public Library<\/p>\n
Nyi Ageng Serang building 7th-8th Fl<\/p>\n
Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said Kav. 22C Ph. (021) 5263241-3<\/p>\n
Central Jakarta Public Library<\/p>\n
Jl. Tanah Abang I, Ph. (021) 3849254<\/p>\n
West Jakarta Public Library<\/p>\n
Jl. Tanjung Duren Barat No. 36 Ph. (021) 5664662<\/p>\n
North Jakarta Public Library<\/p>\n
Jl. Gereja Tugu No. 21 Ph. (021) 4400686<\/p>\n
South Jakarta Public Library<\/p>\n
Jl. Gandaria Tengah V\/3 Ph. (021) 720 1174<\/p>\n
East Jakarta Public Library<\/p>\n
Jl. Jatinegara Timur IV Ph. (021) 8198929<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakartas-public-libraries-being-left-on-the-selves-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }