National Librarian Day 2026: Origins and Theme
Every year on 7 July, National Librarian Day is observed, an initiative championed by the National Library of Indonesia (Perpusnas) together with the Indonesian Librarians Association (IPI). According to the Perpusnas website, the purpose of National Librarian Day is to appreciate the strategic role of librarians in developing public literacy, strengthening reading culture, expanding access to information, and encouraging the digital transformation of libraries.
On 25 June 2025, through the Decree of the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Number 81/M/2025, 7 July was designated as Indonesian Librarian Day. This designation represents a significant milestone in the journey of the librarian profession in Indonesia, as well as a momentum to raise public awareness of librarians’ contributions in an era of disruption. Technological disruption has presented both challenges and opportunities; as information flows without boundaries in the digital space, the public often struggles to distinguish between what is true and what is misleading. It is here that librarians serve as information curators, guarantors of access to reliable sources, and educators in information and digital literacy.
Indonesian Librarian Day was chosen to coincide with a historic moment in the nation’s library world: the first librarians’ congress held in Ciawi, Bogor, from 5 to 7 July 1973. At that congress, on 7 July 1973, the formation of the Indonesian Librarians Association (IPI) was agreed upon as the sole professional body for librarians in Indonesia. The establishment of this commemorative day represents the state’s appreciation for the hard work and dedication of librarians, both in cities and in remote areas. Through this observance, all stakeholders are expected to provide tangible support for strengthening the librarian profession and developing libraries as centres of knowledge, innovation, and social inclusion. All librarians are encouraged to be more confident in carrying out their roles, not only within reading rooms but also as agents of social change who are able to adapt to the times, think critically, innovate, and proactively respond to the needs of society.
The 2026 National Librarian Day commemoration carries the theme ‘Librarians Engaged, Synergised, and Impactful’. A series of events will be held at the National Library, including a Librarian Exhibition from 6 to 10 July, a Klasika Literacy Class on the track record of librarians in Indonesia on 7 July, a short story writing class for junior high school students on 7 July, a Libtalk Literacy Class on 8 July, an online manuscript literacy class on ancient manuscripts and knowledge production on 9 July, a podcast literacy class discussing the relevance of librarians in the age of AI on 9 July, a children’s literacy class on public speaking on 10 July, an animated film literacy class on the early journey of Raden Mas Ontowiryo and Prince Diponegoro on 13 July, a library user guidance class on creating with librarians on 16 July, and a science literacy class for children on 25 July.