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The World Book Day Rumah Dunia with the theme "Voice Your Ideas Through Books" launch by Indonesian National Library in Banten (Photo : Perpusnas) - 

VOInews, Serang, Banten : In the context of World Book Day 2024, National Library Press Publisher launched 15 book titles on Saturday (27/4) at the Rumah Dunia Auditorium in Serang City, Banten Province.

This activity was packaged as World Book Day Rumah Dunia with the theme "Voice Your Ideas Through Books" resulting from the collaboration of the Rumah Dunia Community and National Library Press as well as the support of various stakeholders who care about the progress of the world of books and literacy.

“Every April 23, we celebrate books. In the community, in a cafe, or alone by uploading it on social media. World Book Day, just to celebrate and congratulate? Is that all? "Don't celebrate by launching your own latest book," challenged Gol A Gong, Founder of Rumah Dunia.

World Book Day is the perfect time to celebrate the power of books to change lives, connect people and build civilization. Everyone can interpret World Book Day in different ways, but the essence of the celebration is a love of books and a commitment to supporting literacy.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Saturday (27/04/24), the series of World Book Day activities was held for two days (27-28 April) include discussions and book launches, sharing sessions, cheap book bazaars, book door prizes, art performances and other literacy activities.

The first day was filled with book launching and interactive dialogue between book and literacy stakeholders. A total of 114 book titles were launched and 15 of them were books published by Perpusnas Press.

In the sharing session, resource persons were Edi Wiyono, Chief Editor of National Library Press and Firman Venayaksa, literacy activist and also Head of the Untirta Library, Banten, guided by moderator Gol A Gong, Indonesian Reading Ambassador.

Edi Wiyono appreciated the collaborative work between the National Library through the National Library Press Publishers and Rumah Dunia in celebrating World Book Day.

“Books and literacy are two inseparable dimensions. If you want people's literacy to improve, don't forget about providing literacy content. And one of them comes from books. The launch of more than 100 book titles can be a shared spirit in building a better book ecosystem, especially with authors. "Because the history of World Book Day itself was born because it was related to the figure of a writer as well," said Edi.

Meanwhile, Firman Venayaksa emphasized that World Book Day should also be celebrated by parties who are close to books and literacy. One of them is the library.

"The library is not only a place to buy books, not only as a consumer of reading materials. But must be a producer of knowledge. And that can be translated into giving birth to writings and intellectual works. "Books are one form of generating this knowledge," he added.

Approximately 100 participants attended the first day of World Book Day at Rumah Dunia which was centered in the Rumah Dunia Auditorium. Participants come from literacy activists, the TBM Forum community, Regional Reading Ambassadors, literary/cultural communities.

Some participants came from outside Banten, such as several TBM activists from Kuningan, West Java, writers from Labuhan Batu, North Sumatra, from Lampung and there were participants from Papua.

The 15 book titles published by Perpusnas Press and launched in this activity, the authors have diverse backgrounds. There are bureaucrats such as Plt. Governor, librarian, literacy activist and journalist. Several books resulting from the Indonesian Reading Ambassador writing class.

"We writers, finalists for outstanding librarians, are certainly happy because we can share our knowledge in managing and innovating in the field of librarianship, which will lead us to become finalists for national outstanding librarians in 2023. Hopefully this book will inspire all librarians to continue working for the advancement of literacy in our beloved country ," said Juznia Andriani, one of the authors of the book Steps to Achievement Librarians.

Another statement came from Benny Benke, author of the books Selling the Kaaba and Scattered Stories.

"I'm happy that my book can be published by Perpusnas Press. Moreover, it could be part of a book launched on World Book Day 2024. Several friends asked why it was not published in print. "But I think ebooks and free ones are much more effective for reading," said the man who is also a journalist.

The following are 15 titles and authors whose books were launched at the World Book Day event Rumah Dunia: Selling the Kaaba and Scattered Stories (Benny Benke), The Road to the Capital of the Archipelago with Regional Support Partners (Dr. Safrizal ZA, M. Si), Women in Paper and the Things They Fought For (Aminah Tresno, et al), Waggak-Lenggak Dance of Zapin Meskom Bengkalis Village (Dahrial Iskandar, S.IP), Sangkala Panderman Where We Tell Stories (Mochammad Alif Syahrur Ramadhan), Ronggiang Sakabek Arek (Harlita, S.Pd), Playing Cak Bur (Puspa Dani, S.Pd), Angel of the Earth and Other Stories (Ade Viga Widyanti Utami, et al), Stories and Hope from Kubu Raya (Iza Kalola, et al), Tau Statue Tau Toraja South Sulawesi (Suherman), Urban Management in Indonesia (Dr. Safrizal ZA, M.Si), Steps to Achievement Librarians (Amma Naningrum et al), Librarian Initiative (Abdul Gani, et al), The Multitalent Librarian (Alfa Noranda, et al) and the Air Defense System for the Archipelago Capital (IKN) (Sapuan).

The books that have been launched can be accessed digitally and downloaded in full text on the SiPENA (Publishing Information System) page https://press.perpusnas.go.id and on the iPusnas digital library platform//VOI