T

he Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO and the Solidarity Group of Cabinet Members' Spouses (SIKIB) have established a program that stations mobile libraries in areas with special needs.

Oktiniwati Ulfa Dariah Radjasa, aka Okke, from the SIKIB, said recently that the libraries, dubbed "Mobil Pintar" (which literary translates as "smart car"), have been specially designed to cater to the needs of people living in undeveloped, conflict-ridden or disaster-prone areas.

"Those areas have their own characteristic and people there have different educational needs. That is why we need to tailor the program to each community," she told The Jakarta Post.

The different needs are translated into specially designed skill-improvement programs and approaches to teaching based on local psychologies, as well as the different selection of books and other teaching materials made available.

"For instance, for people living in areas that are prone to earthquakes, we will equip Mobil Pintar with books that teach them what to do when an earthquake hits," Okke, said, adding that her organization now owns 123 Mobil Pintar units.

The Mobil Pintar program has been in operation since 2005. The SIKIB has since added other kinds library services, using hundreds of motorcycles and boats. Houses in some provinces have also been turned into libraries.

Each unit is also equipped with a tutor, in addition to four other tutors stationed in the neighborhoods.

"We train the tutors so they will have better understanding of how to interact with people there. Tutors need to approach communities differently because the people vary from one area to another," Okke said, adding that training is slated for the end of the year.

However, she said, SIKIB had yet to schedule the stationing of the Mobil Pintar in the areas.

"We are still focusing in preparing the programs for the libraries," she added.

Arief Rachman from the commission said the program aimed "to reach the unreached", because people living in conflict areas or disaster-prone areas are often deprived of access to proper education.

The government, he said, has been holding regular education activities in such areas without taking the psychological considerations into account.

The new libraries, Arief said, would host various workshops, on everything from agriculture to hair styling.

"We expect to see consumptive societies developing into productive ones," he said, adding that the program was aimed at "building societies that have the potential to empower themselves".

He, however, urges SIKIB to ensure the sustainability of the program, "because sooner or later their husbands will lose their positions in the government."

"*SIKIB members* must not make this program dependant on the status of the government but make sure it is responsible to the people," he said.

Indonesia has 2,500 public libraries, but observers point-out that these libraries are not well maintained and are considered to be of little real use.

Experts have said that public libraries needed to expand their horizons and serve as community centers to lure more visitors and be more relevant.

In a recent discussion held at the National Education Ministry, the chairman of the Association of Indonesian Library and Information Science Scholars, Harkrisyati Kamil, expressed concerns about the low number of patrons of public libraries.

"Libraries should be part of the community, rather than mere book lending or book keeping facilities," she said, adding that people should be able to participate in activities and events that promote community empowerment in libraries.