Adisti Sukma Sawitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The power of the public library lies in its ability to educate and enlighten patrons.
American Astronomer Carl Sagan once said that the health of a civilization, the depth of awareness about the underpinnings of culture and concern for the future, can all be tested by how well a community supports its library.
What does this say about the Jakarta Library? It has just two computers that provide full Internet access -- there are two additional computers that are configured for library catalog use only.
A search query for sejarah betawi (history of the Betawi) triggers one result and nothing comes up in response to the search terms budaya betawi (Betawi culture).
But this makes people no less eager to visit the library in South Jakarta, which is open almost every day of the year.
The library is visited by 100 people a day on average -- mostly students -- and houses a broad range of books and reference materials.
In all, it has more than 37,600 members.
Library member Nurul Mandasari Pratiwi said Monday she preferred the Jakarta Library to the one near her house in Roxy, West Jakarta, because of its large romance section.
""The West Jakarta Library only has old books and I don't care for the National Library because I can't see or select the titles myself.""
Nurul, a student at State Vocational School No. 2 in Gambir, Central Jakarta, has been a member of the library for more than four years.
The library, which occupies a part of the seventh floor of the Nyi Ageng Serang building, holds 19,086 titles, 53 percent of which are books about social or applied sciences. Seven percent of the library's collection comprises history books, including on Jakarta's history.
Children and teenagers generally make a bee-line for the fiction section, where the comic books and romance novels are kept, whereas university students are mostly after reference materials.
Masturoh, who is studying education at undergraduate level at At-Tahiriyah University in Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta, said she was a frequent visitor to the library because she could find material for her thesis there.
""There is a lot of material here that is relevant to my work. My friends also like to come here to study,"" she said while jotting down the names of some books on basic education in her notebook.
The former director of the library, Bose Devi, said it had insufficient acquisition funds.
Last year it received Rp 8 billion (US$888,888) from the administration for acquisitions and operational costs -- except for salaries.
The library's location in a building that is not directly accessible from the main street makes it difficult to find for people from out of town.
Librarian Wien Muldian said public libraries should essentially be community learning centers, equipped with fixed and wireless Internet access, where even people from other countries could go to get information.
Even though libraries stay open until late, this means nothing because their resources are limited and most people do not even know they exist, he said.
""The administration needs to make a commitment to improving the city's library services.""
Public Libraries
Jakarta Nyi Ageng Serang Building 7th Floor Jl. Rasuna Said No. C22 Kuningan, South Jakarta 021 526 3429
Central Jakarta Jl. Kebon Jahe, Tanah Abang I, Central Jakarta 021 3849254
North Jakarta Jl. Gereja Tugu No. 21 Semper, North Jakarta 021 4400686
West Jakarta Jl. Tanjung Duren Barat No. 36 West Jakarta 021 5664662
South Jakarta Jl. Gandaria Tengah V/3 Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta 021 7201174
East Jakarta Kompleks Pendidikan Rawa Bunga Jl. Jatinegara Timur IV, East Jakarta Ph.021 8198929
