Jakarta Library a “Discovered Gem” for Book Lovers

Reinvented, with a more-appealing, contemporary interior, the Jakarta Library looks like a newly discovered "hidden gem" and is beginning to attract visitors in droves.

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Two visitors read on one side of the floor at the Jakarta Library, in Cikini, Central Jakarta, Monday (29/8/2022).

Among the visitors who flocked to the Jakarta Library on Monday (29/8/2022) was Fatimah (26). Hailing from Lampung, she visited for the first time. The library is located in Cikini, Central Jakarta, near her boarding house.

“I will go to the library when I have something to work on, or just want to be alone. Now that this library is open, I prefer to come here because it is nearby. The book collection is complete, and the atmosphere is cool. It's a hidden gem," she said.

The Jakarta Library looks modern, aligning with the revitalized art-center Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM). The building, which also houses the Hans Bague Jassin Literary Documentation Center, was inaugurated by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan in June.

The library looks more attractive in its modern minimalist interior design. The natural rays creeping in via large windows and the warming decorative lights add to the artistry of the reading hub. Its allure delighted some visitors, who made it the backdrop for photos.

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That day, the visitors were relishing the reading area and other facilities on all three floors. Some were immersed in reading books or browsing on their gadgets with free internet connection.

Najla, a 10th-grade senior-high school student, said it was the second time she had visited the library. Apart from borrowing books, she said she found it a fitting place to indulge in leisure time.

"I'm interested in coming here because the library [collection] is quite complete," she said.

Librarian Fenty Afriyeni said that the library had around 190,000 books consisting of a collection of children's, general and many others that could be used as reference books. Borrowing books is free for members, who can order either offline services or online through the perpustakaan.akarta.go.id website.

I'm interested in coming here because the library [collection] is quite complete.

The library shelves also store premium collections on Jakarta, arts and culture, as well as spaceships, the latter being relevant to the existence of the Planetarium in the TIM area.

Apart from being equipped with reading or working booths that give the nuance of privacy, the library also provides discussion rooms. A special room for visitors with vision disabilities is also available, complemented by a collection of braille books, talking computers and audiobooks. Creativity is facilitated by the provision of rooms for podcast, multimedia activity and child storytelling in the playground.

After being officially opened to the public, the library has seen a rise in the number of visitors, with up to 800 people coming every weekday. On weekends, the visitors can number 1,500 people. The library used to receive between 100 and 600 visitors daily.

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Activities of visitors to the library in Tebet, South Jakarta, Tuesday (30/8/2022).

Tebet reading hub

A library, as a knowledge-acquirement oasis for residents, is also present at a business-and-culinary center in Tebet, South Jakarta. Named Baca di Tebet (read in Tebet), the library has attracted many people to visit since it was opened to the public in February.

Initiated by literacy-activists Kanti W. Janis and Wien Muldian, the library carries some 20,000 books housed on two floors of the building. The library has a cafe and podcast room on the first floor, which is also equipped with a boarding room for library attendants.

Book lovers are offered three options of paid membership: Rp 35,000 (US$2.35) daily, Rp 100,000 monthly or Rp 800,000 per year (Rp 600,000 is the discounted yearly rate for students). The membership fee is set aside for library operational costs.

Arbida Nila (23) is among those who appears to have developed an affinity for the reading hub, having visited five times. She said she dropped by after working hours or on holidays. The library closes at 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 p.m. on weekends, but members can stay extra time under the management’s permission.

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Recalling her school days, Bida, as she preferred to be called, said the library used to be old-fashioned with too many rules. “[Now] this place can be a magnet, as a comfortable place to read or do other activities. People lapse into silence, not because of library rules, but because we feel comfortable,” said the employee of a private company.

She said she came, not merely to immerse herself in book-reading amid the mountains of books on the mounted shelves. She had also come around several times to socialize with other visitors via several activities, such as film screening, music play and tarot-card reading.

Co-founder Wien said that the library had been established not only as a reading and learning room, but also a place for social interaction between visitors. The concept is reflected in the ‘Baca di Tebet’ logo depicting eye, ear and mouth, which Wien said symbolized the senses needed to acquire knowledge.

He said the concept of the library had been formulated with an insight into the characters of Generation Z, those born in 1995-2012, and Generation Alfa, born in 2012 or after.

“These generations have yet to sort out their future orientation, but they are willing to pay to fulfil their desires. Here, once they know that with a fee of Rp 35,000, they can go to the library, borrow books, get drinking water and hang out all day, they are willing [to pay for it]," Wien, who is chairman of the Indonesian Library and Information Science Graduates Association (ISIPII), said.

This conceptual approach, he said, was suitable for urbanites; a third of them were young citizens with various backgrounds. Now being contemporary and inclusive in design, the library can serve as a comfort zone and an unearthed gem for residents of Jakarta.

This article was translated byMusthofid.