UIN Jakarta Library Podcast Room, News Online – Rapid digital transformation has changed many aspects of life, including how students learn and access information. In this context, campus libraries are required to be more than just quiet rooms for storing books; they must also serve as centers for literacy, collaboration, and innovation.

This was emphasized by Professor Dr. Sum'ainna, M.Si., Professor of Applied Mathematics at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, in a live podcast titled “The Future of Libraries in the Digital Age” on Wednesday (June 18, 2025).

This live podcast is part of a series of events for the “Library Festival 2025,” which will be held from June 16 to June 20, 2025.

The Campus Library Is No Longer Quiet and Silent
According to Prof. Sum'ainna, campus libraries are the heart of higher education. Therefore, the old approach of treating libraries as quiet places must be overhauled. If this does not change, libraries will be abandoned by the younger generation, who are more interested in ease of access and digital convenience.

“The old paradigm of libraries as quiet places needs to be shifted. Now, libraries must exist as active, open learning ecosystems that are adaptive to technological developments,” said Prof. Sum'ainna.

According to him, library transformation must begin with four important things: first, transforming collections into digital form; second, collaborative spaces (such as this podcast room); third, librarians as agents of digital literacy; and finally, accessibility (digitally accessible and secure).

Dynamic Collaboration Spaces and Digital Access Are Key
Physical and digital transformation is in the spotlight. Library collections are no longer sufficient in physical form alone, but must also be available in e-book format, online journals, and scientific repositories. “Physical books remain important, but they must be complemented by e-books, electronic journals, and other digital resources that can be accessed anytime and anywhere,” said Prof. Sum'ainna.

The library space also needs to be redesigned to be comfortable for various activities, not just reading. “We need interactive spaces, even mini studios or podcast rooms like this. That is what today's generation of learners need,” explained Prof. Sum'ainna.

Librarians as Digital Literacy Agents
Prof. Sum'ainna also emphasized the importance of improving librarians' competencies. “They are no longer book keepers, but digital literacy agents. They must be able to direct students to reliable scientific sources and master information technology,” she said.

Today's librarians, he continued, need to do more than just understand cataloging. They must become knowledge navigators—able to guide students to reliable sources of information, educate them on digital literacy, and continue to develop their technological competencies.

Towards the Library of the Future
The main message of this podcast is that the future of libraries is not determined by technology alone, but by the extent to which libraries are able to position themselves as partners in the education and research process. If managed properly, libraries can become pioneers of higher education transformation, not just complementary entities.

The transformation of libraries—in terms of collections, spaces, the role of librarians, and service systems—is part of the journey toward inclusive, collaborative, and adaptive transformation in response to future challenges. *RMr

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