UIN Jakarta Library News Online - Today, Indonesia celebrates National Book Day which falls every May 17. This annual commemoration was first commemorated in 2002, initiated by Abdul Malik Fadjar (Minister of Education in the Gotong Royong Cabinet).

Quoted from the Ministry of Education and Culture website, the commemoration of National Book Day was motivated by the low literacy rate and book sales in Indonesia at that time. According to UNESCO data in 2002, the literacy rate of Indonesian adults or the population aged 15 years and over was only 87.9%. This figure is lower than neighboring countries such as Malaysia (88.7%), Vietnam (90.3%) and Thailand (92.6%).

“The commemoration of National Book Day is not just a celebration, but a momentum to reflect on how important literacy is in improving the quality of Indonesia's human resources.” Said Agus Rifai, Head of Library of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.

Agus continued, “In today's Digital Age, access to information is getting easier. However, it is important for us to ensure that the ability to read and understand information remains a priority”.

The excitement of this National Book Day commemoration was intensified through social media. The hashtags #HariBukuNasional and #AyoMembaca became trending topics on various social media platforms. Many social media users shared their favorite book recommendations and stories about how books have influenced their lives.

This year's National Book Day is an opportunity to discuss the challenges facing literacy in Indonesia, such as low interest in reading and lack of access to quality books in some areas.

The commemoration of National Book Day is expected to be an encouragement for Indonesians to continue to increase their interest in reading and make books a part of their daily lives. By reading, we open the window to the world and enrich our insights for a better future. (RMr)