VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Head of Indonesian Nationa Library take a picture with participants after the event in Bogor Library - 

"History will return the east to the way it was before the west burned down the glory of the east and then took it away", this was conveyed by the Head of the National Library (Perpusnas) RI Muhammad Syarif Bando in his remarks when opening the Community Literacy Index Improvement (PILM) activity which was held in the auditorium of the Bogor City Library and Gallery on Tuesday (29/8/2023).

This is where the librarian plays an important role in the library whose job is to collect knowledge from around the world and then package it for the needs of professionals.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Wednesday, the Head of National Library emphasized the new library paradigm that must be implemented in order to develop community literacy, namely collection management (10%), knowledge management (20%), and knowledge transfer (70%).

"What's with the collection in the library of millions if there are people from Bogor who don't understand the history of the city of Bogor, how to become a businessman and then become a beggar even though he is healthy and fit, very concerning," said Syarif.

He also regretted that Indonesia has not been able to be like South Korea which can become a developed country because of its literacy level.

In line with the Head of the National Library, Deputy Mayor of Bogor, Dedie A. Rachim, said that Indonesia and South Korea were both independent in the same month and year, but now these countries are able to accelerate to become more developed countries than Indonesia.

Dedie then recounted the development of South Korea into a developed country which apparently started with an order to carry out comparative studies and literature studies. He further added that the Indonesian nation has also produced many great works, but how these works can be documented and distributed to the public is still a problem.

"Many great works from our nation are also used by various nations in the world, but the problem is how then the great works that have been produced by our nation, then written, then properly recorded and distributed, and properly socialized," he explained.

Dedie also hopes that the lag in the past can be repaired by Gen Z, who will become future leaders. Indonesia is also capable of becoming like South Korea if its people are literate.

Ade Perucha Hutagaol or better known by her pen name Trinity explained how she became interested in literacy from the habit of being read stories before going to bed and being given a book prize if she got good grades at school.

"Actually, at the beginning of introducing literacy from home, indeed, from my parents, I liked reading books and passed it on to their children," he said.

It can be said that interest in literacy must start from the smallest circle, namely the family and not be forced but accustomed to it as stated by the author of the travel book "The Naked Traveler".

Eka Ardhinie, an influencer as well as a literacy activist, also has a habit of reading newspapers that her parents have subscribed to since she was young. According to him, things that seemed trivial were recorded and influenced him into adulthood.

The two figures encouraged Gen Z to continue working in written form. Although sometimes writers experience writer's block, which according to Trinity is just laziness. However, he revealed that we must admit that there is writer's block, but we still have to be disciplined in continuing to write by setting a certain duration of time for writing breaks.

Meanwhile, Eka advised the writer to make time to study again, seek knowledge or other references.

The PILM activity with the theme "Free Literacy: Cool Reading, Trending Writing" was held in parallel with storytelling activities for kindergarten children, sketch competitions, and book review//VOI