Mobile libraries reach out to people
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Monday mornings have been Firman's favorite time of the week for the last five months, ever since a purple minivan started making regular visits to his neighborhood.
Less than five minutes after public librarian Heru Purwanto parks the van in an empty lot near the scavengers' settlement where Firman lives in Cipete, South Jakarta, the 11-year old boy came running and cheering, "Here it comes!"
"Where have you been, Pak? Last week you didn't come," Firman complained to Heru who was busy opening the side doors, revealing 30 small lockers filled with books.
Firman quickly took out a storybook and occupied one of the six folding chairs lined up beside the van that bears the sign Perpustakaan Keliling (Mobile Library).
"Good books," he said, without taking his eyes off of his reading. Firman did not move an inch until his mother called out for a snack that he brought back with him to the mobile library.
"He's one of our regular visitors," Heru, the driver-cum- library officer from the South Jakarta Public Library, said as more children came up to the book-filled van. "There are usually up to 50 people crowding around the van, mostly children and housewives."
The van that Heru drives, carrying almost 1,000 titles ranging from comics and literary works to the popular inspirational series "Chicken Soup for the Soul", reaches communities previously unfamiliar with the pleasures of recreational reading.
Each of Jakarta's municipal public libraries sends out an average of five library vans from Monday to Thursday to visit schools and districts that have requested access to their books.
The program was initiated in the late 1980s and expanded in May when the national library added seven more library vans equipped with audio visual equipment.
"This one I drive to kampongs in Cipete, Cilandak and Jagakarsa," Heru said, explaining that he visited two areas everyday between 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
"We usually see more people in the afternoon," Heru said, adding that, at first, there were not that many people interested in the books that are taken from the South Jakarta public library collection.
He explained that in 2002, the Coca-Cola Foundation helped the library obtain more books, as well as with campaigns to familiarize communities with reading. "We handed out brochures to them," he said.
The North Jakarta public library has a similar program, sending their four library vans to areas like Cilincing, Rawabadak, Marunda and Kebon Bawang, where there are many low- income, squatter communities.
"We choose areas where there are no libraries, and underdeveloped schools, that are willing to help us provide access for a wider public in the surroundings to enjoy the books," North Jakarta librarian Deuk E. Roedji said.
The library plans to also operate on Sundays to reach more people. "We are open to requests from other districts or schools," Roedji said.
Aside from on-the-spot reading sessions, those interested in enjoying the books at home can apply for membership by submitting a copy of their Jakarta identity card or a letter from the local community head confirming their residency.
Membership allows them to borrow the books for two weeks. However, the officers said that no one had ever applied for membership through the mobile libraries.
"They prefer just to come by whenever we visit their area. Maybe because mostly they are migrants without Jakarta ID," Heru said, glancing at his wristwatch, and preparing to leave.
"Yaaaa...," Firman sighed with disappointment as Heru told him that it was time to go.
The boy will have a week to figure out the ending of the Enyd Blyton story he left half-finished. (003)