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Indonesia to have more IT-based public libraries
âLearning: Students happily work at one of the libraries supported by the PerpuSeru program
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âLearning: Students happily work at one of the libraries supported by the PerpuSeru program. (perpuseru.org) (perpuseru.org)
'Learning: Students happily work at one of the libraries supported by the PerpuSeru program. (perpuseru.org)
Five hundred fifty public libraries in 99 regencies and 451 villages in Indonesia are set to receive information technology (IT) facilities, including computers, training programs, mentoring and assistance, following an additional investment of US$12 million from the program's initiator.
The targeted regencies are said to include Papua, Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara and Maluku.
"With IT facilities, public libraries will be able to provide various programs that can help improve people's lives. We are happy to continue our partnership with the Coca Cola Foundation Indonesia as well as the National Library, Home Ministry, PT Telkom and Microsoft and support the next phase of the program together," said Christopher Elias who represents the PerpuSeru program's initiator, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), in a press release on Monday.
Initially run in 2011, PerpuSeru aims to transform public libraries into IT-based community learning centers and has so far supported 118 libraries across the archipelago in 34 regencies and 84 villages in 16 provinces.
The program's long-term vision includes increasing the standard of living of at least 20 million Indonesians in 2025.
"We are hopeful that the program will increase people's interest, especially those living in villages, to come to libraries," said National Library head Sri Sularsih.
PerpuSeru is part of BMGF's Global Library Initiative program, which is said to have reached 253 million people through 28,000 libraries in more than 54 countries. (kes)(+)
