Perpusnas and Goethe-Institut Enhance Cultural Literacy

The National Library of the Republic of Indonesia (Perpusnas) and Goethe-Institut Indonesia have officially partnered in library matters to enhance cultural literacy and expand knowledge access between Indonesia and Germany. The partnership was formalised through a memorandum of understanding signed by Perpusnas Secretary General Joko Santoso and Goethe-Institut Director for Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, Constanze Michel, at the Perpusnas building in Jakarta on Tuesday. “Libraries are no longer merely spaces for storing books but venues for dialogue, cultural understanding, lifelong learning, and international collaboration. In an increasingly interconnected world, libraries play a crucial role in helping societies understand one another through access to knowledge, literature, and culture,” Joko said. Joko stated that the partnership reflects strong trust and commitment between the two institutions. Perpusnas continues to expand access to knowledge and foster intercultural understanding, particularly between Indonesia and Germany. Through this collaboration, both parties plan to implement various joint programmes, including developing and maintaining German collections, organising seminars, workshops, conferences, exhibitions, and cultural events, as well as enhancing librarian and library user capacity through training and knowledge exchange. “In this spirit, today’s MoU signing holds significant meaning. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to strengthening library services, promoting cultural exchange, and expanding access to global knowledge for the well-being of our communities,” Joko added. As part of the initial phase of the collaboration, Goethe-Institut Indonesia donated 287 titles to enrich the German Corner on the 20th floor of Perpusnas, covering themes such as children’s literature, architecture, history, novels, travel writing, and migration knowledge sources. The collection will be updated over the next five years before being permanently integrated into Perpusnas’ foreign collections service. “These valuable collections will enrich and provide broader opportunities for Indonesians to learn more about German history, literature, society, arts, and contemporary developments,” he said. Meanwhile, German Federal Republic Ambassador to Indonesia Ralf Beste stated that the collaboration focuses not only on expanding book collections but also on strengthening human resources capacity and developing library competencies. “Through this collaboration, both parties aim to build a more inclusive and sustainable learning ecosystem via various human resource capacity-building programmes, training, and knowledge exchange initiatives in library science,” Ralf said. He added that this is a crucial step in supporting modern societal progress, as knowledge plays a strategic role in national development. Meanwhile, Constanze Michel explained that one of Goethe-Institut’s primary global missions is to provide up-to-date, diverse, and comprehensive information about Germany to the international community.