National Library: AI Use for Literacy Must Maintain Integrity

The National Library of Indonesia (Perpusnas) has emphasised that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve literacy must continue to stress integrity. Secretary Utama of Perpusnas, Joko Santoso, stated that librarianship work inherently involves checking the veracity of facts and scientific methods, ensuring that AI remains a tool rather than a replacement for critical thinking. “Ultimately, the use of AI must have integrity because, in the end, the work of librarianship is about checking the truth of facts and scientific methods, related to integrity. To remain relevant in the midst of AI, Perpusnas continues to develop the competencies of librarians and train them in the use of AI to enhance efforts to improve the nation’s literacy,” he said during a media briefing on the 17th Indonesian Digital Library Conference (KPDI) in Jakarta on Thursday.

He explained that librarians are inherently linked to cross-sector collaborative work, such as research. “Researchers also utilise various tools that are close to AI, and they use them with research work. Librarians are also involved with citation work and translation. Perpusnas is also creating reading points in public spaces. In people’s schools, besides providing books in digital format, students also organise literacy improvement activities so that they remain relevant in the midst of AI,” he added.

Perpusnas, in collaboration with the Indonesian Digital Library Forum (FPDI), will host the 17th KPDI on 4-6 August 2026 at the University Hotel of Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta in Bantul, Special Region of Yogyakarta. The conference will carry the theme “Consciousness, Behaviour, Interaction, and Information Culture in the Era of Artificial Intelligence”. The theme was chosen to strengthen information culture as a crucial foundation for society to utilise technology critically, ethically, and responsibly.