100 Library Managers of School Libraries in Babel Participate in National Library Technical Guidance

CENTRAL BANGKA – 100 School /Madrasah Library Managers, namely MTs/SMP, MA/SMK/SMA throughout the Bangka Belitung Islands Province (Babel) participated in Technical Guidance (Bimtek).

The activity, coordinated by the National Library of Indonesia (Perpunas RI) in partnership with the Archives and Library office (DKPUS) of Bangka Belitung Province, began on Tuesday (21/2/2023) at the Soll Marina Hotel in Pangkalanbaru, Bangka Tengah, and lasted three days.

Head of Center for Development of School/Madrasah and Higher Education Libraries (P3SMPT) at the National Library of Indonesia, Nurcahyono, representing the Head of the National Library of Indonesia, opened Bimtek directly, which was also attended by Head of DKPUS Babel, Rakhmadi, and Librarians of DKPUS Babel.

Nurcahyono explained that school libraries must have standards. This is mandatory. His party will later see how many school libraries in Bangka Belitung have met the national school library standards.

The National Standards for School Libraries include collection standards, infrastructure, services, personnel, administration, management, and integration with the curriculum.

The National Library, he added, also acts as a motivator, including through a library competition held by the National Library as a motivation for schools to manage libraries.

Besides that, Nurcahyono reminded those who have expertise in writing and printing books that it would be a loss if they did not submit their printed works to the library.

Therefore, the National Library of Indonesia, he continued, feels that this technical guidance is something that must be held for school library managers. After participating in this technical guidance, the participants can improve their knowledge and skills in managing the school library.

Head of DKPUS Babel Rakhmadi advised school library managers to be able to manage their libraries to be better and more useful.

"I hope that through this 3 days meeting, I will be able to open the horizons for managing the school library to be better at carrying out tasks related to literacy, namely to educate and prosper," said Rakhmadi.

The role of school library managers, emphasized Rakhmadi, is that literacy must grow, be able to educate, and prosper.

On this event, Head of DKPUS Babel Rakhmadi confirmed the regional management of the Indonesian Babel School/Madrasah Library Forum, chaired by Siti Rofiqoh.

(Translated by Maria Ulfah)