Mobile libraries reach out to people<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Monday mornings have been Firman's favorite time of the week for
\nthe last five months, ever since a purple minivan started making
\nregular visits to his neighborhood.<\/p>\n
Less than five minutes after public librarian Heru Purwanto
\nparks the van in an empty lot near the scavengers' settlement
\nwhere Firman lives in Cipete, South Jakarta, the 11-year old boy
\ncame running and cheering, \"Here it comes!\"<\/p>\n
\"Where have you been, Pak? Last week you didn't come,\" Firman
\ncomplained to Heru who was busy opening the side doors, revealing
\n30 small lockers filled with books.<\/p>\n
Firman quickly took out a storybook and occupied one of the
\nsix folding chairs lined up beside the van that bears the sign
\nPerpustakaan Keliling (Mobile Library).<\/p>\n
\"Good books,\" he said, without taking his eyes off of his
\nreading. Firman did not move an inch until his mother called out
\nfor a snack that he brought back with him to the mobile library.<\/p>\n
\"He's one of our regular visitors,\" Heru, the driver-cum-
\nlibrary officer from the South Jakarta Public Library, said as
\nmore children came up to the book-filled van. \"There are usually
\nup to 50 people crowding around the van, mostly children and
\nhousewives.\"<\/p>\n
The van that Heru drives, carrying almost 1,000 titles ranging
\nfrom comics and literary works to the popular inspirational
\nseries \"Chicken Soup for the Soul\", reaches communities
\npreviously unfamiliar with the pleasures of recreational reading.<\/p>\n
Each of Jakarta's municipal public libraries sends out an
\naverage of five library vans from Monday to Thursday to visit
\nschools and districts that have requested access to their books.<\/p>\n
The program was initiated in the late 1980s and expanded in
\nMay when the national library added seven more library vans
\nequipped with audio visual equipment.<\/p>\n
\"This one I drive to kampongs in Cipete, Cilandak and
\nJagakarsa,\" Heru said, explaining that he visited two areas
\neveryday between 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
\"We usually see more people in the afternoon,\" Heru said,
\nadding that, at first, there were not that many people interested
\nin the books that are taken from the South Jakarta public library
\ncollection.<\/p>\n
He explained that in 2002, the Coca-Cola Foundation helped the
\nlibrary obtain more books, as well as with campaigns to
\nfamiliarize communities with reading. \"We handed out brochures to
\nthem,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The North Jakarta public library has a similar program,
\nsending their four library vans to areas like Cilincing,
\nRawabadak, Marunda and Kebon Bawang, where there are many low-
\nincome, squatter communities.<\/p>\n
\"We choose areas where there are no libraries, and
\nunderdeveloped schools, that are willing to help us provide
\naccess for a wider public in the surroundings to enjoy the
\nbooks,\" North Jakarta librarian Deuk E. Roedji said.<\/p>\n
The library plans to also operate on Sundays to reach more
\npeople. \"We are open to requests from other districts or
\nschools,\" Roedji said.<\/p>\n
Aside from on-the-spot reading sessions, those interested in
\nenjoying the books at home can apply for membership by submitting
\na copy of their Jakarta identity card or a letter from the local
\ncommunity head confirming their residency.<\/p>\n
Membership allows them to borrow the books for two weeks.
\nHowever, the officers said that no one had ever applied for
\nmembership through the mobile libraries.<\/p>\n
\"They prefer just to come by whenever we visit their area.
\nMaybe because mostly they are migrants without Jakarta ID,\" Heru
\nsaid, glancing at his wristwatch, and preparing to leave.<\/p>\n
\"Yaaaa...,\" Firman sighed with disappointment as Heru told him
\nthat it was time to go.<\/p>\n
The boy will have a week to figure out the ending of the Enyd
\nBlyton story he left half-finished. (003)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mobile-libraries-reach-out-to-people-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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