Intensifying Reading Culture, Dispusip Sends Reading Books to Residents' Homes

The Jakarta Library and Archives Agency (Dispusip) is increasingly promoting a culture of fondness for reading, to increase literacy and people's welfare. One of them is to re-hold the Literacy Compact Family Initiative (IKRA), by delivering reading books to homes to be loaned and used by the community.

Books can be borrowed for 14 days

Thousands of types of books, from children's story books, knowledge, to skills, have been prepared for distribution to the public.

"Books can be borrowed for 14 days and can be more according to the wishes of the community. For its implementation, we also involve elements of the Sub-District, Urban Village, and PKK Mobilization Teams in all City/Regency Areas in Jakarta, thus this activity is expected to reach all levels of society in Jakarta," expressed Jakarta Library and Archives Agency Head, Wahyu Haryadi, as quoted by Jakarta PPID's press release, Tuesday (1/31).

2,374 Reading Books Distributed to Reading Corners in Central Jakarta

He conveyed the importance of cultivating a love of reading from an early age and the smallest scope, namely the family.

“The characteristics of an advanced society are having a high literacy rate, which can be started by cultivating a reading culture in the family. IKRA will make it easy for families to get a variety of quality reading books," he explained.

IKRA is a routine activity initiated by the Jakarta Library and Archives Agency in 2020. This activity was expected to be a positive thing that families can do at home, thus it becomes a solution to fostering a reading culture in the family environment.

These efforts often encounter challenges, especially with the presence of electronic media, such as television, games, gadgets, and others, thus children's interest in reading decreases.

Aside that, the agency would also choose a Jakarta Reading Ambassador, namely someone who met the requirements and was selected and assigned to carry out the mission and function of cultivating a love of reading in Jakarta within a certain period.

Besides Provincial Reading Ambassadors, Reading Ambassadors would also be selected in the Administrative City/Regency area. The selection of Reading Ambassadors was to increase the role of the community in developing the quality of human resources through literacy.

"The elected Reading Ambassadors are expected to be role models, motivators, inspirers, catalysts, and influencers in a bid to promote a love of reading. They must be able to spread the spirit of literacy and encourage a love of reading, through activities that are local and have a special character according to the needs of the community," he explained.

With the existence of Reading Ambassadors, the promotion of reading culture would reach a wider community, thus more people have awareness of the importance of reading activities for daily living skills. This ambassador election would be held in the first quarter of 2023.

The elected ambassadors will have a work program or activity plan that is structured in a directed and systematic in order to improve the culture of reading fondness and literacy skills in Jakarta.

Therefore, the ambassadors must have a thorough understanding of the management of program plans, implementation of activities, reports that contain reflections, and follow-up activities.

The Jakarta Provincial Government invites literacy activists in Jakarta to participate in the election of Regional Reading Ambassadors and contribute to the Jakarta Library and Archives Agency in promoting a culture of fond reading in society.

Always monitor the Jakarta Library and Archives Agency publication channel on the website: https://dispusip.jakarta.go.id/ and Instagram @perpusjkt, and @bacajakarta, to get more information about the Election of Jakarta Province Reading Ambassadors