"We are striving to develop library at mosques as the center for literacy and education for the people," Director General of Islamic Community Guidance Kamaruddin Amin stated in his written remarks, received on Tuesday.
The ministry recorded that 845 mosques nationwide have developed their library, and at least four thousand distinct book titles are accessible through the ministry's Islamic literacy electronic facility, ELIPSKI.
However, he pointed out that the number remains minuscule compared to 307 thousand mosques and 375 thousand musallas (smaller mosques) recorded in the ministry database.
Amin stated that the ministry will continue pushing more mosques to set up libraries and identify new quality books that should be made available for people in mosque libraries.
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The director general affirmed that his side will also focus on developing libraries at mosques in remote regions, where access to quality reading materials is often hindered.
"The ministry expects mosque libraries to be an inclusive and sustainable center of science," he remarked.
Amin also expected the ministry's office in regions and mosque management to forge cooperation with relevant parties, such as local authorities, book publishers, and literacy communities to develop mosque libraries.
"Library at mosques is one of our missions to improve literacy among the people, especially in regions with difficult access to public libraries," he remarked.
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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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