Standing before Perpustakaan Bifurkasi today it might be hard to believe that Indonesian libraries have a rich history. The Perpustakaan Nasional Republik Indonesia or Perpusnas plays a vital role. It manages information and the nation’s intellectual wealth.
Let’s step back in time. The roots of the Perpusnas trace back to the colonial era. The Dutch established the Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen in 1778. This scientific institution in Batavia now Jakarta included a library. It became a hub for scientific research plus historical and cultural documentation of the Dutch East Indies.
After Indonesia’s independence the government founded the Perpustakaan Negara on May 17 1952. This was a crucial step toward forming the Perpusnas.
The Perpustakaan Nasional Republik Indonesia was officially established on May 7 1980. This was by Presidential Decree No 11 of 1980. It marked a significant effort to build an integrated national information center. The Perpusnas collects stores preserves and distributes information. This relates to Indonesian culture and science.
The Perpusnas has continuously evolved in the digital age. Initially it only offered physical book loans. Today the Perpusnas offers digital services. These include e-books online journals and digital repositories. People throughout Indonesia can access these resources. They gain broader access to literature without visiting the Perpusnas building.
A major achievement was the construction of a new building. President Joko Widodo inaugurated it on September 14 2017. The 24-story building is on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan in Jakarta. It is known as the world’s tallest library building. It offers modern facilities. These include comfortable reading rooms multimedia spaces and fast internet access.
The Perpusnas has several key functions for national literacy development. It serves all members of society not just scholars. The Perpusnas collections are open to the public. Books are not available for borrowing. The Perpusnas focuses on developing knowledge. It provides reading materials to educate the nation.
Besides books the Perpusnas provides other facilities. These include a theater audiovisual services a reading culture area and a data center. It also houses the Indonesian Academy of Sciences office.
Each floor of the Perpusnas offers unique services. The first floor features the Main Lobby. The second floor includes Library Membership Services Information Search and an Auditorium. The third floor showcases a Reading Culture Promotion Zone. The fourth floor houses an Exhibition Room and a Cafeteria. Administrative offices are on the fifth floor. The sixth floor contains the Data Center and a prayer room Musholla. Services for Children the Elderly and People with Disabilities are on the seventh floor. The eighth floor provides Audiovisual Services. The ninth floor offers services related to Archipelago Manuscripts.
Floors 10 and 11 store closed Monograph Collections. Floors 12 and 13 provide Reading Rooms for these collections. The 14th floor features Rare Book Collection Services. The 15th floor offers Reference Services Online Collections and Library Science resources. The 16th floor provides access to Photo Map and Painting Collections. Floors 17 and 18 house the Indonesian Academy of Sciences offices. Multimedia Services are on the 19th floor. The 20th floor offers Current and Foreign Periodical Collection Services. Floors 21 and 22 provide Open Monograph Collection Services. The 23rd floor offers Bound Journal Collection Services. Finally the 24th floor features Archipelago Cultural Collection Services an Executive Lounge and a Reception Room for International Guests.
The Perpusnas began as the Bataviaasch Genootschap in 1778. This institution was dissolved in 1950. Today the Perpusnas stands as a truly national library. It serves the entire community.