Some popular libraries in Jakarta
Want to search for your favorite books in the city? Check out these libraries to fulfill your needs:
Erasmus Huis Library
Atmosphere: Like other libraries run by various foreign services in Jakarta, Erasmus Huis is also very well-maintained and designed to make visitors feel comfortable. It has air- conditioned reading areas and a carpeted floor. Space tends to be a bit limited in the library room, which is relatively small for its large book collection. It does feature friendly and helpful staff to make up for any size shortcomings.
Facilities: Audio-visual (cassette, video, CD ROM), photocopier, Internet and a micro-fiche reader.
Hours of Operation:
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Address: The Royal Netherlands Embassy, Jl. H.R Rasuna Said Kav S-3, Kuningan - Jakarta.
Phone: (021) 524-1069
Librarians: Two
Collections: The library stores 18,850 books -- mostly in Dutch, 51 titles of famous Dutch and Indonesian magazines and newspapers, 289 videos (VHS) on Indonesian history, and 10 VCDs featuring Dutch documentary works. For music lovers, the Erasmus music library is definitely worth a visit. It has up to 583 CDs, mostly jazz and classical. What distinguishes Erasmus from other libraries is its law library. If you are a student of law, a legal practitioner or a researcher, you might want to consider having a read in this library.
Memberships:
* Indonesian Citizens: Public: Rp 30,000/year, Students: Rp 15,000/year
* Non-Indonesians: Adult: Rp 60,000/year, Children: Rp 40,000/year
Other information: To rent CDs, members must deposit Rp 50,000 for each CD.
The Japan Foundation Library
Atmosphere: The library looks very "Japanese." It's quiet, simple, fully air-conditioned, well-organized and adorned with Japanese art, such as Origami, hanging from walls, plus Japanese dolls. Only five staff work in the library, but visitors should not be worried as they offer a comprehensive service.
Facilities: The library has sets of audio-visual systems with which to watch videos or listen to tapes. A giant TV is installed right at the entrance for people who want to watch news from Japanese Broadcasting station NHK.
Opening hours:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Wednesday, Sunday, Holiday: Closed
- Saturday on Second and Fourth Week: Closed
Address: Summitmas Tower I, Lt. 2, Jl. Sudirman Kav 61-62, Jakarta 12190, Phone: (021) 5201266
Collections: There are 27,000 books in English, Japanese and Indonesian, 300 videos and cassettes all about Japanese, 100 titles of Japanese and Indonesian magazines, and CD ROMs (10 titles)
Membership: Students: Rp 10,000 per year, General Public: Rp 20,000 per year
The British Council Library
Atmosphere: Since the renovation, this is probably the trendiest, most modern and most hip library in the capital. The room is fresh, with purple and green splashed on different parts of the wall. Comfy cushions in several corners, fully air- conditioned, with friendly librarians.
Facilities: Online catalog, Internet, Audio-visual.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Address: S. Widjojo Center, 1st Floor, Jl. Sudirman 17, Jakarta 12190, Phone: (021) 2524115, Fax: (021) 2524129
Collections: The library has around 20,000 books for general reference, novels and language teaching and learning. It also has 3,000 cassettes and videotapes on British movies, music and documentaries, 80 magazine titles and 24 titles of documentary CD ROMs.
Membership:
- Britzone Bronze - Britzone Magazine: Rp 30,000 per year
- Britzone Silver Books (books & 12 hours of Internet access): Rp 75,000
- Britzone Silver Audio-Visual (books, videos, cassettes, 12 hours of Internet access): Rp 100,000 per year
- Britzone Gold (books, videos, cassettes, 12 hours of Internet access, Britzone Magazine: Rp 150,000 per year
The Indonesian National Library
Atmosphere: Very library-like, with single booths for readers lining the two reading rooms. Rather dull, but at least it is air-conditioned. Make sure you are fit! The collection rooms are separated from the catalog and reading room, so you have to run from one floor to another.
Facilities: audio-visual (cassettes, videos, photocopying, Internet, microfilm readers)
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Address: Perpustakaan Nasional RI, Jl. Salemba Raya 28A, Jakarta, Phone : (021) 3154862, 3154863, 3154864
Librarians: 80
Collections: The library has the most extensive collection, with 720,000 books in various languages and from various periods, including Sanskrit, Indonesian, ancient Javanese, Dutch and English.
Another collection is ancient manuscripts from around the country, various magazines and newspapers (480,000), cassettes (400), documentary videos (1,000 titles) and microfilms (5,000).
The library also has rare ancient manuscript collections from the 14th century. There are around 10,000 titles of ancient manuscripts made from goat skin, bamboo and paper from across the archipelago.
Membership: General Public: Rp 15,000 per year, Students: Rp 5,000 per year, Companies/Institutions: Rp 15,000 per year
The Australian Embassy Library
Atmosphere: The library reminds one of a home library. It is quite small but very homely, comfortable, and fully air- conditioned with cushions at several spots. The library has a very serene ambience, visitors can read there for hours. Only one, very friendly member of staff serves visitors. But brace yourself for a full body inspection before you enter the embassy compound.
Facilities: Online catalog, Internet
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Address: Australian Embassy, Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav C15-16, Jakarta, Phone: (021) 5201266
Collections: There are only 7,950 books in the library, consisting of general reference, children's and language teaching.
Membership: Free but limited only to residents of Greater Jakarta (Jabotabek), and KIM(S) holders.