"In the 2024 government work plan (RKP), Perpusnas will focus on developing a culture of literacy, creativity, and innovation in efforts to improve the quality of life and welfare," he remarked.
In promoting literacy in the community, the Perpusnas conducts the improvement of library services based on social inclusion, he said.
He explained that one of the actions in the library service based on the social inclusion program is strengthening literacy content that supports community productivity.
Perpusnas is also developing the Nusantara Manuscript Center to utilize the nation's cultural treasures.
In preserving Nusantara manuscripts, the Library collaborates with various parties, including the Leiden University of the Netherlands and others who succeeded in making the Hikayat Aceh Literature designated as the Memory of the World (MoW) by UNESCO on May 18, 2023.
Perpusnas also signed an MoU with the British Library for documentation and research on Indonesia's cultural heritage collections, as well as sharing good practices for managing historical manuscripts.
Deputy Speaker of Commission X of the House of Representatives, Abdul Fikri Faqih, said the indicative ceiling for Perpusnas' spending for the 2024 fiscal year is Rp721.19 billion (around US$48 million).
"Perpusnas is considered capable of meeting the Commission X's expectations even though the budget is very limited," Faqih stated.
The House member said that Perpusnas had proposed an additional Rp383.16 billion (around US$25 million) in the 2024 State Budget Draft (RAPBN) to strengthen literacy and upgrade internal service quality.
The House urged the Library to complete a study on the determination of programs and their targets, he said.
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Translator: Indriani, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
