Head of National Library Highlights National Library’s Role and Initiatives to P4N 69 Participants

Head of The National Library of the Republic of Indonesia (Perpusnas RI), Prof. E. Aminudin Aziz, delivered a lecture to participants of the Preparation and Consolidation Program for the National-level Leaders (P4N) Batch LXIX at Lemhannas RI on Monday (2/9). During the session, Prof. Aminudin spoke on the position, mission, and initiatives of Perpusnas RI, emphasizing its role as a non-ministerial government institution (LPNK) reporting directly to the President.

Prof. Aminudin highlighted that literacy and numeracy levels among Indonesian children remain low, particularly in reading long texts. “No nation can advance if its literacy and numeracy levels are weak,” he said, noting that Indonesians on average read only 5.91 books per year, roughly half a book per month, a figure that calls for national reflection.

He identified six main factors contributing to low literacy and numeracy: conceptual misunderstandings among literacy advocates, limited reading materials aligned with interests, lack of post-reading support facilities, low program relevance, insufficient literacy facilitator competence, and minimal stakeholder support and participation.

On the role of Perpusnas RI, Prof. Aminudin stressed that libraries are not just repositories of information but also platforms for developing creativity and critical thinking. “I always say that if a library functions this way, it should foster high-level literacy,” he explained.

To support these functions, Perpusnas RI currently operates four service locations: Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan and Jalan Salemba Raya in Central Jakarta, the Proklamator Bung Karno Library in Blitar, and the Proklamator Bung Hatta Library in Bukittinggi.

The Head of Perpusnas emphasized that high literacy and numeracy also require higher-order thinking skills, including recognizing, understanding, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating, and creating. He noted that creativity is a key indicator of advanced literacy.

Perpusnas RI’s current priority programs include promoting reading culture and literacy skills, mainstreaming Nusantara manuscripts, and implementing standards and accreditation. One initiative covers 1,000 villages in collaboration with 21 state universities, engaging 15 students at each location. The program is strengthened through the distribution of quality reading materials to thousands of village libraries, health centers, community groups, and correctional institutions, supported by the National Literacy Volunteer network.

The National Library currently holds 3,564,166 titles or 9,791,759 copies, complemented by digital services including e-resources, iPusnas, INLIS, OPAC, Khastara, and Indonesia One Search. (IS/CHP/MDF)