Indonesia Showcases Literacy Initiatives at IFLA World Library Congress

Indonesia’s National Library Takes Center Stage at the 90th IFLA Congress

Indonesia’s National Library, known as Perpusnas, brought its signature literacy initiatives and grassroots community strategies to the 90th IFLA World Library and Information Congress and a related satellite meeting in South Korea. Ten Indonesian delegates made the journey for the international gathering held from August 10 to 13, 2026, positioning the country’s evolving public library models onto the global stage. Four staff members from the National Library served as formal presenters, highlighting how local volunteer networks and modern digital tools are reshaping reading habits across the archipelago.

National Library Head E. Aminudin Aziz emphasized that participating in major international forums must yield practical, measurable advantages for both the institution and the general public back home. “Knowledge, experience and networks gained must be brought home and translated into ideas and practices relevant to strengthening libraries and literacy in Indonesia,” Aziz noted during the event.

Grassroots Literacy Models and the Expanding Relima Volunteer Network

Among the standout presentations, Sadariyah Ariningrum Wijiastuti took part in the selective IFLA Emerging Leaders 2026 program as one of just 16 global participants. Wijiastuti’s presentation focused on popular culture as a vital gateway to literacy, measuring library impact, and detailing the successful Community Literacy Volunteer model, commonly known as Relima.

The Relima initiative has seen significant scaling across the country. Official data highlights that the program expanded rapidly from 180 volunteers operating across 177 districts and cities in 2025 to 360 volunteers spanning 321 districts and cities in 2026.

Embracing Artificial Intelligence, Scholarly Access, and Library Collaboration

The delegation’s presentations tackled modern information challenges head-on, balancing grassroots outreach with high-tech administrative tools. Yaya Ofia Mabruri, recipient of the Angela Bersekowski Grant, addressed the intricate web of collaboration needed among libraries, schools, educators, families, and local communities. Mabruri emphasized that strengthening reading comprehension, critical thinking, and intellectual originality is more urgent than ever amid the rapid development of artificial intelligence.

Complementing this perspective, Suci Indrawati Irwan explored scholarly communication through diamond open access repositories. Irwan argued that institutional research portals must ensure knowledge remains freely accessible, easily discoverable, thoroughly interconnected, and fully reusable for the public good. Meanwhile, Irhamni Ali demonstrated how artificial intelligence can be harnessed to monitor public library performance effectively. Ali pointed out that raw data should be used to identify systemic patterns and guide administrative decisions, provided that data quality, local context, and community needs are carefully accounted for.

Global Exchange and Strategic Takeaways for Indonesian Libraries

Beyond the formal conference halls and paper presentations, the Indonesian delegation’s itinerary featured structured visits to several prominent South Korean libraries. These site visits opened valuable pathways for bilateral knowledge exchange, technical networking, and future institutional partnerships aimed at supporting ongoing library transformation initiatives in Indonesia.

Photo: indonesianupdates.com

How can public libraries in your own community better leverage volunteer networks and digital tools to foster a deeper culture of reading? Share your thoughts below.