Libraries asked to draw public by advertising<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Libraries must try to sell themselves more to
\nthe public, by placing advertisements in newspapers, radio and
\ntelevisions, an expert said.<\/p>\n
Agus Rusmana, the head of the library department of the
\nBandung-based University of Padjadjaran, said in a seminar on
\nTuesday that libraries are not attracting enough readers because
\nthe public is unaware of their existence, and the services they
\noffer.<\/p>\n
The reason for this, he added, was that most administrators
\nof libraries take it for granted that the public already know
\nabout their facilities.<\/p>\n
\"With this assumption, we rarely see libraries and their
\nservices being promoted or advertised to the public. Libraries
\nare often treated like working offices by their administrators,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Neglected<\/p>\n
More than 500 members of the Indonesian Librarians Association
\nare taking part in the two-day seminar which was opened by
\nPresident Soeharto. The event preceded the National Librarian
\nCongress, which was opened yesterday.<\/p>\n
There are more than 15,000 government-run libraries throughout
\nIndonesia, hardly sufficient to cater to the needs of the
\ncountry's population of 195 million. Some of these libraries,
\nhowever, have been left neglected, partly because of their
\nfailures to attract the public, and partly because of financial
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
Agus proposed that libraries place advertisements in the
\ncountry's electronic and print media to promote their services.<\/p>\n
\"Through the mass media, librarians can familiarize the public
\nwith the function of library services, and the benefits of using
\nthem\" he said.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the public has become accustomed to
\ngetting their information from newspapers and television, but
\nthey do not realize that libraries can offer them access to more
\ninformation than is available in the mass media.<\/p>\n
\"People don't know that they can learn more from the
\ninformation that the libraries provide,\" he said, adding that
\ngiven the huge cost of running libraries, such investment would
\nbe wasted if the public does not take full advantage of the
\nservices.<\/p>\n
Agus also proposed that in order to make libraries attractive
\nto the public, their administrators should pay attention to
\ninterior design, location and a host of other factors.<\/p>\n
He admitted however that another major drawback to the
\ndevelopment of libraries in Indonesia is the generally poor
\nreading habits of the people in this country.<\/p>\n
\"Instead of reading, most people here prefer to get their
\ninformation from other people, rather than trying to find it
\nthemselves. This is known as a 'listening society',\" Agus said.<\/p>\n
Another speaker, Ratna U. Widodo, head of the library of the
\nNational Atomic Energy Agency Research Center, said it is no
\nsecret that the authorities do not provide enough funds to
\nimprove the quality of libraries.<\/p>\n
\"The librarian association should take on the role of a
\n'liaison' agent between potential investors and the libraries,\"
\nRatna said.<\/p>\n
The librarian congress which got underway yesterday is to
\nelect the new executive board and discuss ways of forging closer
\ncooperation between the various libraries in the country. (31)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/libraries-asked-to-draw-public-by-advertising-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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