Ideas on Wheels
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Mobile Libraries in Indonesia
April 2007
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| Enjoying a book from the mobile library |
USC carries out a mobile library program for children and youth in parts of rural Indonesia. The libraries – two specially equipped vans – carry thousands of books and videos to children who would otherwise not have access to a library.
The program aims to raise awareness about rights, tolerance, and understanding, promoting these values among young people.
The program serves nearly 1,600 children in 22 communities around Yogyakarta, Banda Aceh, and Meulaboh.
Teaching Responsibility
Last year, the mobile library program introduced the idea that participants could be responsible for lending books in their own communities. USC’s partner in Indonesia, SATUNAMA, donated collections of books to local schools throughout Yogyakarta District.
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The vans are equipped to show educational videos
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They also organized two workshops to train youth as junior librarians. The 34 participants are now helping manage the collections at those schools,
At Bopkri Sidomulyo II primary school, for example, students had little in terms of a lending library, aside from a few textbooks. With help from the mobile library program, the school now has about 150 books on site, and each month the mobile library returns to exchange the books with different titles.
A Lesson Learned
Five children at the school took part in the junior librarian training and they take their responsibilities very seriously. “We like to keep the book loan register and ensure the library is clean and tidy,” they said. “We also have no problem collecting the Rp 100 ($0.01) per day fine for late books.”
When asked about their plans for using the fine money, they replied, “We want more space, and we also want more books.”
SATUNAMA has been running the mobile library program in Yogyakarta for several years now and only recently established a second program in Aceh province, in Western Indonesia. The junior librarian program has been a good addition to the mobile library, not only extending the reach of the program, but also building the confidence and skills of the young people involved.
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Students in front of one of the libraries in Aceh province
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Building Confidence
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