The Jakarta Library and Archives Agency (Dispusip) is collaborating with PT Bank DKI in renovating three public reading parks (TBM) in the capital.

Hopefully, a good TBM will attract more people to like reading in the future

Library Development and Reading Culture Division Head, Suryanto detailed, those reading parks were Piranti Bangsa TBM in Gandaria Utara Urban Village, Kebayoran Baru South Jakarta; Baitul Ilmi TBM in Sumur Batu Urban Village, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta; and Kampung Buku TBM in Cibubur Urban Village, Ciracas, East Jakarta.

"Renovation will use budget from Bank DKI's corporate social responsibility (CSR) and will start in early January 2022. I appreciate them for being committed and collaborating to support it," he expressed, Wednesday (12/15).

He explained, it was done according to the Public Reading Parks Forum (FTBM)'s proposal, because of the poor condition of the building. It was needed to provide more comfort and safety for visitors.

"We asked them (FTBM) to provide input which parks should help with. Some of the buildings have burned down before, are prone to collapse, and need repairs," he explained.

According to him, the Jakarta administration has an obligation to accommodate the people's passion for reading, especially children. Moreover, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) named Jakarta as the City of Literature last November, following in the footsteps of other cities in the world that pay a lot of attention to literature, such as Edinburgh, Dublin and Manchester.

"We must support it, as TBM facilitates the community with books and brings books closer to them. That's why, we want them to love reading from an early age," he stated.  

He added, the administration was committed to support a reading culture in the community. Not only by improving the infrastructure, but also by stretching activities in growing intere st in reading.

"Hopefully, a good TBM will attract more people to like reading in the future," he hoped.