"We can confidently say that we will not reduce the number of books or the targeted distribution locations, from Aceh to Papua," Perpusnas head E. Aminudin Aziz said in a statement released here on Friday.
He then emphasized that the budget cuts implemented across state institutions will not stop Perpusnas from providing training activities to libraries in regions on how to properly arrange, display, and offer books online, in collaboration with the Community Reading Park (TBM) Forum.
Aziz further informed that his office will proceed with three priorities for this year: promoting a reading culture to boost people's literacy skills, mainstreaming Indonesian scripts, and assessing the quality of libraries.
"Our literacy initiatives directly touch communities. We will continue striving to provide convenient access for people to literature at the National Library as well as similar facilities in villages, districts, cities, and provinces," he said.
The Perpusnas leader added that his side is also determined to make literary works more accessible by converting printed books into digital format despite the 38.8-percent budget cut due to the efficiency push.
During a meeting with Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta on Thursday, Aziz assured legislators that the Perpusnas will effectively use the new budget of Rp441.82 billion (US$27.2 million) to enhance the national literacy rate.
The pre-efficiency budget for Perpusnas this year stood at Rp721.68 billion (US$44.5 million).
Esti Wijayati, deputy speaker of the legislative commission, urged the National Library to think and work strategically to serve its primary function of increasing the literacy rate amid budget cuts.
"Strategic considerations should come into play so that the Perpusnas continues operating optimally," she said.
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Translator: Lintang Budiyanti, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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