I

t is an eight-floor library building holding a massive collection.

But unfortunately, the National Library on Jl. Salemba in Central Jakarta, is not drawing a large number of visitors.

When The Jakarta Post recently visited the library only three people were on the fifth floor of the
building.

In a perfect world, a library should be the center for public activity, but in Jakarta, only university students as well as researchers regularly haunt the library.

“I come here to research for a report,” Anton, a postgraduate student majoring in communications at the University of Indonesia, told the Post.

Three other floors of the building were also bereft of visitors. Two floors used as storage spaces were closed to the public.

In spite of the low attendance, head of the library Martini Hardjoprakoso said that on average more than 100 visitors came per day.

She claimed that the low attendance could be because the library was currently rearranging its
collection.

The work, which started in November last year, is expected to wrap up in April.

She said that during this period, three floors were closed to the public, while the rest remained open. But visitors have been given conflicting information.

When the Post arrived in the lobby, a security guard and receptionist said that the library was
closed.

However, the receptionist retracted her statement saying that the National Library was partially opened.

But once inside, any visitor can easily be impressed by the library’s massive collection with 1.5 million items including microfilms and CDs. There is also an elaborate system preventing theft.

There are many classics and even old scripts written on papyrus and bark in the library. There is also
an abundance of newspapers, journals and magazines from the days of yore.

Computer sets were arranged on the third floor, which is still closed temporarily.

The building has a Wi-Fi service and there are also computers on the ground floor that are available
for free.

An Indonesian student who went to a grad school in Malaysia told the Post that the national library in fact had a better collection than those in Malaysia.

However, he said in terms of management and service, this library was quite outdated.

“In Malaysia, when a book is stated available, it is assured it is in the library,” said the student, who gave his name only as Kunto.

“But in Indonesia, when the system says a book is available, it does not mean that the book is there,” he added. (aaa)