Originator of Indonesian Literacy Networks

Name: Originator of Indonesian Literacy Networks
Uploaded: 2021-04-10T01:56:05Z
Duration: 20 min 32 s
Description: Wien’s activity is indeed inseparable from books and his networks. He is the originator of a Book Market mail list with around 10,000 members as a meeting spot of various circles and book communities.

Wien’s activity is indeed inseparable from books and his networks. He is the originator of a Book Market mail list with around 10,000 members as a meeting spot of various circles and book communities.

Ester Lince Napitupulu

· 5 minutes read

Wien Muldian, 48, is always imbued with ideas to strengthen the literacy culture in the country. His love of books has motivated him to set up networks with activists and institutions to augment public literacy. He makes every effort to realize his dream of building Indonesian society by benefiting from science and information.

Wien always shares his program arrangement ideas with those who are determined to initiate literacy movements in many regions. He has established networks that link librarians so they can present libraries as houses for the pursuit of knowledge. Besides, connections are also maintained with writers to produce quality content.

Also read: Literacy Motivator in Tanah Sigupai

“I like the model of discussion, learning together. We will continue to develop as new ideas keep popping up. It’s because knowledge keeps growing, imagination is expanding. So, I want our youths to follow such a trend, always increasing their knowledge by learning in groups and sharing,” said Wien in Jakarta on Wednesday (7/4/2021).

For Wien, networking offers various benefits that can bring about changes from local to national levels. He only serves as a source of ideas or conceptualizer, as an initial step to get literacy activists going. Unsurprisingly, Wien is known as a figure behind the birth of different literacy movements.

I like the model of discussion, learning together.

In many places he launches book reading, book discussion and knowledge sharing movements as well as presents accommodating libraries. His ideas of promoting literacy in local communities in Indonesia got a boost after joining brief training in Japan. At the time he was a student at the University of Indonesia, studying social empowerment in 1996. He admired the literacy culture of Japanese society and wished to introduce it to Indonesia.

Also read: Stefanie Augustin, Fighting for Children’s Literacy

In 2001, Wien cofounded Indonesia Reading Forum, which triggered the birth of thousands of reading communities known as Taman Bacaan Masyarakat (TBM/Public Reading Parks), spread over all regional corners. Furthermore, Wien toured different regions to persuade youths to start literacy movements in their areas. He also advocated the collection of reading books from various parties, among others through the 1001 Books Community, for further distribution to the TBM or libraries in need.

Also read: Missing the Reading Movement

Three years later, Wien entered civil service in the Education Ministry and was subsequently appointed the ministry’s Library Chief. Then he changed the rigid library into a more modern one by the name of Library@Senayan. The library’s atmosphere was made more convenient with various community activities. Library management was more open with free service through the Senayan Library Management System or SLiMS.

Wien’s ideas to maintain modern libraries with diverse community activities continue to be adopted. Wien is involved in designing the service building of the National Library on Jalan Merdeka Selatan, Jakarta.

Also read: Education Center for Aceh Children

Since 2006, Wien through the Indonesian Literacy Association has arranged the celebration of the World Book Day on 23 April in Indonesia. The event lasting until the National Book Day on 17 May has been warmly welcomed by communities of writers, publishers, readers, artists as well as the public. Last year, the celebration was still lively by presenting 30 online programs.

As a civil servant, Wien has strived to maintain the attention of national education policies to literacy. In its development, the School Literacy Movement undertaken by Wien and many circles goes on in various schools. The National School Literacy Festival in 2018 became an arena of sharing between literacy communities.

Along with his networks, Wien enhances the capacity and quality of writers by initiating and being active in Persatuan Penulis Indonesia (Satupena/Indonesian Writers Association) and Indonesian Writers Inc (IWI). Via IWI, a writers’ cooperative has been founded, providing guidance for writers with the presence of curators and literary agents to help gifted writers publish their books.

“After endeavoring for quite a long time, literacy has improved in schools. I’m happy, my duty in the education ministry seems to be completed. There are still many other dreams I’m going to pursue,” said Wien.

If we learn in a group, we have the same knowledge. Don’t just be smart on your own

In 2021, Wien and his peers have introduced RumahdiTebet, BacadiTebet and MakandiTebet in Tebet, Jakarta, as a cozy center of knowledge for young people. It’s the meeting place to search for specific references of science, have discussions and learn together to build individual capacity, while enjoying culinary delights, of course.

Wien remembers his childhood, where he grew up in a family that encouraged reading. More than reading, his father, a judge by profession, and his mother, a teacher, invited children to have discussions. “As a child I liked forming a reading group to discuss the same book. If we learn in a group, we have the same knowledge. Don’t just be smart on your own,” said Wien.