Exploring 'Ruang Baca' at DISPUSIPDA Jabar: Navigating the World of Community Literacy

Dinas Perpustakaan dan Kearsipan Daerah Provinsi Jawa Barat, also known as DISPUSIPDA Jabar, is a government institution in the West Java province responsible for managing regional libraries and archives. DISPUSIPDA Jabar was established according to the West Java Provincial Regulation Number 06 of 2016, which outlines the formation and structure of regional agencies in West Java. Previously, this institution functioned as an agency called Badan Perpustakaan dan Kearsipan Daerah Provinsi Jawa Barat (BAPUSIPDA). DISPUSIPDA Jabar plays a crucial role in advocating literacy, providing library services, and preserving archives to support the maintenance of regional history and culture.

The library located at Jl. Kawaluyaan Indah II No.4, Jatisari, Kecamatan Buahbatu, Bandung City, West Java, provides various services and facilities for its visitors. One of them is the 'Ruang Baca' facility for library visitors. There are five reading rooms that can be enjoyed and utilized directly. These five reading rooms are Ruang Baca Anak (Children's Reading Room), Ruang Baca Dewasa 1 (Adult Reading Room 1), Ruang Baca Dewasa 2 (Adult Reading Room 2), Ruang Baca Remaja (Teen Reading Room), and Ruang Baca Referensi (Reference Reading Room).

In this article, we will discuss the five reading rooms as information for new visitors who may not be familiar with the facilities provided by DISPUSIPDA Jabar. Each reading room is designed to offer a comfortable and diverse reading experience, equipped with interesting and relevant book collections. The discussion will cover the facilities, services, and policies applicable in each reading room, enabling visitors to make optimal use of them. 

1. Ruang Baca Anak (Children's Reading Room)

Source: Facebook Dinas Perpustakaan dan Kearsipan Daerah Provinsi Jawa Barat

The first reading room is Ruang Baca Anak (Children's Reading Room), located on the first floor of DISPUSIPDA Jabar. As the name suggests, this reading room is specifically designed for children or parents who want to engage their little ones in playful learning activities.

In this reading room, there are various facilities provided, and they are quite impressive. Starting from the entrance, there is a computer for self-service searching, commonly known as OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog), to find information about the book's serial number or location. In the Children's Reading Room, there are different types of books available, including fiction, history, stories of prophets, encyclopedias, and various kinds of comics. However, the books are not categorized based on the child's age or educational level; they are all in one room, only distinguished by their types.

Additionally, there is a play corner with various facilities, such as a small playhouse with a slide, board games, and more. These facilities serve as a play area for children, making it one of the reasons they enjoy spending a long time in the reading room. Comfortable circular tables with chairs are also provided for children who want to read.

Not only that, but in this reading room, there are often child-friendly events such as storytelling sessions, drawing and coloring competitions, and visits from Kindergarten students from various areas in Bandung or beyond. The books in the children's reading room can be borrowed and taken home by borrowing them at the librarian's desk located near the entrance. However, make sure to have a membership card beforehand.

The policies in this reading room are actually the same as in every reading room, which is the prohibition of bringing food and drinks. Ensure to store all personal belongings in the provided lockers. Only books, writing materials, and necessary electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and chargers are allowed inside the reading room.

2. Ruang Baca Dewasa 1 (Adult Reading Room 1)

Source: UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

Ruang Baca Dewasa 1 (Adult Reading Room 1) is located on the second floor of DISPUSIPDA Jabar. This reading room contains a collection of books that support daily life and often includes many reference books for academic studies. Therefore, Adult Reading Room 1 is usually bustling with students from universities around the city of Bandung who are working on assignments or theses, as well as office workers completing their work. 

The facilities available in this room include the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC), which is a catalog system accessible to visitors for finding information about books. Additionally, there is free WiFi service and toilet facilities. Tables and chairs are provided for reading, discussions, or completing assignments/work. There is also a lending desk usually attended by staff for book borrowing.

The categorization of books in Adult Reading Room 1 is divided into several categories and sorted by serial numbers. The classification of the library collection in Adult Reading Room 1 & 2 generally follows the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) structure, as follows:

• 000 Karya umum (referensi kamus, ensiklopedia dll) (General works (dictionary references, encyclopedias, etc.))
• 100 Filsafat (Philosophy)
• 150 Psikologi (Psychology)
• 200 Agama (Religion)
• 297 Agama Islam (Islamic Religion)
• 300 Ilmu-ilmu sosial (Social Sciences)
• 320 Politik (Political)
• 330 Ekonomi (Economy)
• 340 Hukum (Law) 
• 350 Ilmu Pemerintahan (Government Sciences)
• 370 Pendidikan (Education) 
• 500 Ilmu-ilmu murni/eksakta (Pure Sciences)
• 600 Teknologi (Technology)
• 610 Kedokteran dan farmasi (Medical and Pharmacy) 
• 650 Manajemen dan bisnis (Management and Business) 
• 700 Seni (Art) 
• 800 Bahasa dan Kesusasteraan (Language and Literature) 
• 900 Geografi, biografi dan sejarah umum (Geography, Biography, and General History)

From serial number 000 to 900, they are not all placed in a single Adult Reading Room 1 but divided into two sections. Adult Reading Room 1 contains book collections from serial number 000, which includes general works, up to serial number 370, which covers the topic of Education.

3. Ruang Baca Dewasa 2 (Adult Reading Room 2)

Ruang Baca Dewasa 2 (Adult Reading Room 2) is located right next to Ruang Baca Dewasa 1 (Adult Reading Room 1) and offers similar facilities overall. Visitors to Adult Reading Room 2 also generally include students, university students, and workers. The book collection in this reading room covers the range of serial numbers 500 to 900, involving pure sciences to topics such as geography, biography, and general history. 

Adult Reading Room 2 also offers books in the form of literary works, both from Indonesia and translated works from foreign authors into Indonesian. For those of you who love novels or other fiction works, Adult Reading Room 2 at DISPUSIPDA Jabar is an interesting destination. The collection of novels provided is very diverse, ranging from classical literature to the most recent releases. However, it's important to note that the contemporary book collection may not be extensive, depending on the latest updates. It's advisable to determine the book you want to borrow through the OPAC, which is generally accessible during library visiting hours, or you can choose and come directly to the reading room.

4. Ruang Baca Remaja (Teen Reading Room) 

Source: Dispusipda Jabar

Ruang Baca Remaja (Teen Reading Room) is located on the third floor of DISPUSIPDA Jabar. This reading room is intended for students from Elementary School (SD), Junior High School (SMP), and Senior High School (SMA). On regular weekdays during school hours, the reading room is often quiet as students are still in school during that time. It's suitable for those who want to read books or work on assignments peacefully. However, after school hours or on regular school holidays, the Teen Reading Room will be filled with students looking to unwind after school or find reading materials. 

The Teen Reading Room is equipped with tables and chairs, similar to the facilities in other reading rooms. Its book collection includes various types, ranging from school support books in the fields of exact sciences and social sciences to literature works from both local and international authors translated into Indonesian, according to the students' age category. Additionally, there are comics with various titles, motivational books, and much more available in this reading room.

5. Ruang Baca Referensi (Reference Reading Room)

Source: Dispusipda Jabar

Ruang Baca Referensi (Reference Reading Room) is located right next to the Teen Reading Room on the third floor. Visitors can find the Reference Service offering a number of special collections, such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, maps, and some collections with uncommon or rare value. Inside the Reference Service room, there is also a collection of newspapers regularly subscribed to by DISPUSIPDA Jabar. Additionally, the Reference Service provides a discussion room that can be used by visitors who need a space for discussion, creating a supportive environment for various exchanges of ideas and knowledge. Moreover, the facilities available are similar to what is commonly found in other reading rooms.

Well, that was a brief overview of the reading rooms at DISPUSIPDA Jabar. Hopefully, this article can help you who plan to visit one of the largest libraries in West Java. Let's make use of the available facilities to support all kinds of activities or tasks. Salam Literasi!