Social Minister: People's School Libraries to be Accessible 24 Hours

Tangerang (ANTARA) - Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf stated that the permanent People’s School buildings will feature a modern-concept library that can be accessed 24 hours a day and is open to the general public as well as students from other schools according to a set schedule. “The library will not only serve as a place for learning but also as an alternative space for students to engage in positive activities. Therefore, in the future, this library will not only be for People’s School students but can also be accessed by the general public and other schools with proper arrangements,” said Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf during a capacity-building and mentoring event for People’s School library managers in Serpong, Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday. The Social Minister explained that in its design, the library will be at the forefront of the People’s School area. Even visitors entering the school premises will pass directly through the library area as a symbol of the importance of literacy. He added that in several countries, libraries have become primary destinations during holidays, especially following restrictions on gadget use for school-age children. A similar trend is beginning to emerge in Indonesia, although it is not yet widespread. “There are already communities bringing their children to libraries as an alternative for recreation. This is what we want to promote more broadly,” he stated. The construction of People’s Schools also involves competent parties in their fields. For physical construction, the government has handed it over to the Ministry of Public Works (PU) to ensure infrastructure quality. Currently, several regions such as Makassar have begun the construction process with a relatively uniform design. However, for urban areas, the building concept will be adjusted to land conditions, such as vertical construction. “We do not want this programme disrupted by project interests. Therefore, everything is handed over to the experts so that the results are optimal,” said the Social Minister. Head of the National Library Prof. Aminudin Aziz added that his institution has distributed books to People’s School libraries, with details of 1,500 books for primary school level, 1,500 books for junior secondary level, and 1,000 books for senior secondary level. “Later, in permanent People’s School buildings, we will increase them according to the conditions. The main point is to meet the book needs that match the students’ interests,” he said.