Dreaming of Future Libraries

As one who has been studying in the higher education levels and especially has been traveling across the continents as well as has attained knowledge from universities where have the excellent libraries' facilities, complete and luxurious, I was having a big dream to do something for my nation. A dream to see all people of my country become literate and are free from illiteracy because they have to go to affordable schools or even to the free schools provided by the government and the private sectors. 

Furthermore, they have to have the high interest in reading books and/or anything useful so that they can gain insight and knowledge in science and technology. In order to do so, I think, it has to be supported by best libraries and, of course, they have to be developed by outstanding core collections. This is that I may call the future libraries.

Although I was born and grew up in a small town far from the capital city and the wide-ranging facilities, I feel so blessed that born and raised in a family that understands the importance of reading. I am always reminded by the two sorts of "provisions" given by my parents since I was little. They are the Holy Book (the Koran) and the books. 

Since we were small, my siblings and I were given the opportunities to learn and to read the Koran and could "khatam" (finished 30 Juz/sections of the Koran) as much as possible assisted by a teacher called "Ustadz". Besides, my parents did not forget to reward us many kinds of books on any occasion. They were mainly children story books. Since then, without realising it, I have become a devoted books' reader. I was keeping on continuing my habit of reading books on the various themes, as well as to the upper levels.

Having had adequate collection of books, our family has been having a small family library at home as well. Despite it was not the complete collection of books, it was enough for us. Even when I was in junior and senior high school, my reading habits penetrated to the rental places. I used to rent the story books, for example short story collections and novels because I did not have enough money to buy them.

Furthermore, until I was in the college, getting into the reading habit became more "crazy". I used the allowances that were given by my parents to buy books, books and books. 

Since then, I was being very gratifying because I have got the opportunities to pursue my career as an educator in several universities and schools, so all my books' collection were so useful as my teaching materials and research literature. Yet, my students often came to my house to borrow books or to discuss everything related to their studies or their thesis projects.

Illustration picture: freepik.com

To this day my small library has become the initial start to make my dreams happen, step by step. I have been thinking that if I have been fortunate enough for the highest possible in getting and enjoying the knowledge that fairly "abundant", why don't I transfer and share them to others, in particular to those who are not so lucky in pursuing education, such as to people in the rural areas as well as to the needy that cannot afford because of the poverty conditions?

Have said, I also have got an inspiration from a workshop held in Jakarta. It was a National Gathering of Forum Lingkar Pena (FLP). There was an interesting point in the workshop that discussed "How to Optimise the Community Literary Centre and the Library"; how the literary community centre could be a strategic means though this centre is simpler than a library.

Yes, this centre could provide books to be read as well as to be borrowed by the public in the easier ways facilitated by a small group of people who dedicate themselves to the development of the community around them or even across the regions, like what has been done so far by Ms. Yessy Gusman from Yayasan Bunda Yessy (Mother Yessy Foundation). 

In this workshop, she spoke as one who has been actively involving in educating people throughout Indonesia by her excellent programs through these centres that were founded and facilitated by her. I was delighted I had got a bunch of used books as donation from her foundation as well.

In addition, this workshop discussed the challenging situations might be faced by the Indonesian people in future. Therefore, the literary community centres and, in particular the libraries should provide the superb facilities and services in the coming years to meet those needs above.

Well, initially beginning with my books collection and some agencies, which have kindly donated many books, I would continue in establishing the future libraries and would carry on subsequently the community literary centres in the remote areas, at least started from the people who live in my home town, followed by other regions. 

I hope that the libraries can supply the excellent facilities, specifically as comfortable places to read and to find the good and comprehensive books, magazines as well as journals, and mostly, with their range of resources that could be found easily through the computers and the internet. Henceforth, they also would be part of the child-friendly environment.

Above all, the libraries could be the tremendous educational centres dedicated to the community as the centres of learning and to obtain knowledge and information.*