Getting to Know Nyi Ageng Serang Library: Here's How to Visit
The Nyi Ageng Serang Library has resumed serving the public after ceasing operations since 2020. This public library, owned by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, has returned with a new look and extended operating hours into the evening.
With its new appearance and more complete facilities, the Nyi Ageng Serang Library in South Jakarta has become a public space where residents can read, study, work, and participate in various literacy activities.
The library reopened on 8 July 2026 following a revitalisation. It is located in the Taman Rasuna Complex on Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said, South Jakarta. The library is open every day, Monday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Western Indonesia Time. The longer operating hours are expected to give the public more flexibility to use the library’s services, including after work or school hours. Before visiting, guests are required to register as members through the official Perpustakaan Jakarta website. Visitors are also asked to maintain order and cleanliness and to comply with the rules for using each room and facility.
The revitalised building provides various spaces designed to support literacy and collaborative activities. Facilities include a general collection reading room, a children’s room, a multimedia room, discussion rooms, a computer room, a co-working space, an auditorium, a prayer room, and comfortable open areas for reading and discussion. Visitors can also access printed book collections and digital library services. In addition to being a place for reading, the library also hosts various activities such as book reviews, workshops, creative classes, film screenings, and community discussions.
The library is situated on the 7th and 8th floors of the Nyi Ageng Serang Building on Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said. It is easily accessible by public transport. Visitors can take the LRT Jabodebek and alight at Rasuna Said Station, then walk to the building. Alternatively, they can use the TransJakarta busway and get off at the Rasuna Said bus stop. For those using the KRL Commuter Line, they can disembark at Sudirman Station and continue the journey via LRT or TransJakarta. MRT Jakarta passengers can alight at Setiabudi Station and then take a TransJakarta bus or an online taxi to the building.
The library is named after Nyi Ageng Serang, a national hero known as a female fighter in the Java War of 1825-1830. Born Raden Ajeng Kustiyah Wulaningsih Retno Edi, she was a descendant of Sunan Kalijaga and the great-grandmother of Ki Hajar Dewantara. During the Java War, she served as a leader and strategic advisor to Prince Diponegoro in the fight against the Dutch. Despite being over 70 years old, Nyi Ageng Serang continued to lead the struggle on the battlefield. One of her most famous strategies involved using taro leaves as camouflage for her troops to avoid enemy detection. For her service and struggle, Nyi Ageng Serang was awarded the title of National Hero, and her name has been immortalised on various public facilities in Indonesia, including the building and library in the Kuningan area of South Jakarta.