Short on collection, Kepri provincial government invites book donations for libraries

Batam (ANTARA) - The Library and Archives Office (DPK) of Kepulauan Riau Province (Kepri) is inviting the public to donate books to help expand the regional library’s collection, which currently does not meet the standard number of holdings. Head of DPK Kepri M. Bisri said the library owned by the Kepri Provincial Government currently has only around 20,000 book titles, while the ideal standard is at least 50,000 titles. “Our collection is indeed still lacking. At present it is only around twenty thousand titles, whereas the standard should be around 50,000 titles. Therefore we are open to and accepting book donations from the public,” Bisri said when contacted in Batam on Sunday. Bisri cited the example of a high school student who continued her education abroad and recently donated her entire collection of novels to the regional library. “Recently there was a high school student studying abroad who handed over all her novels to us. We were very pleased. Perhaps many members of the public have good books at home that could be donated so they can be read by others,” he said. Every book received will go through a selection and assessment process before being added to the library’s collection. “They can be brought directly to the Kepri Provincial Government library or to the nearest district/city library,” Bisri said. In addition to expanding the regional library’s collection, the collected books will also be distributed through various literacy programmes. “We also continue to distribute books to reading gardens, school libraries, and even to correctional facilities. So the books that come in will provide wider benefits,” he said. “We will continue to encourage the Reading Interest Level (TKGM) through the Family Reading Movement and the availability of family reading spaces,” he added. Furthermore, his office is promoting the Family Reading Movement by establishing reading corners in homes, government offices, places of worship, and even cafes. “Another concern is the utilisation of libraries by the public. It is not just about increasing the number of books, but how the public becomes more fond of reading and makes use of existing library facilities,” Bisri said.