How To Develop Library in Digital Age

Writer:
Hendrikus Franz Josef, M.Si

Regional Library and Archive Office of

Yogyakarta Special Region
2019
 Abstract

As a provider and agent of information, the role of the library is not well known to
many people and the wider society. On the other hand, people are familiar with the
providers and institutions other information disseminators such as mass media units,
such as television stations, radio or printed media which exists. Though seeing the
tasks and functions that are very important to participate educate nation's life,
libraries can play a role in helping improve welfare nation, through information
services. In connection with that, the transition to the third millennium, it should be a
momentum good for library service providers. Momentum for "contemplation"
institutionally and again do more steps that are more integrated and directed, for the
sake of improving the performance of library institutions. This is all in order to achieve
the ideals of the nation, as well as the purpose and duties of a lofty library institution,
namely to improve the welfare of the nation. The world moves faster. Thanks to the
development of information technology, we can now receive information from other
parts of the world in just seconds. If we used to read news from sheets of paper such
as newspapers or magazines, now we read it through screens of communication
devices such as smartphone that we always carry anywhere. Transfer of knowledge
is getting faster, but changing shape. Inevitably, the development of Information
Technology has advanced very rapidly. All areas of life are almost nonexistent with
the "miracle" of information technology. The futurists are competing to make
predictions. Some predict that consumption of office paper will be less (paperless).
There are also sociologists who predict the relationship between humans will be
increasingly tenuous because of the increasing interaction between humans and the
internet.

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 Part I
Library as Information Center

The position of the library, as a non-profit institution, both government and

private, is very likely make it possible to achieve these ideals. Especially with
the support of various parties, both from within and from outside the
institution. Main tasks and functions of the library actually really in accordance
with the times and is currently ’enjoying’ suitable momentum, if it can be
utilized properly Where is the problem of information, especially information
on science, technology and art and humanities becomes something very
important and strategic for the community.

Not only for scientific community or academics, but also important for the
wider community crave progress. Even more important will be the role of the
library as the center of scientific information if it is associated with the ideals of
the nation towards a new Indonesia, namely: the formation of a civilized
society. One characteristic of democratic and prosperous societies is freedom
and freedom to access useful information.

On the other hand, the Indonesian people today are facing tough
challenges. All people realize how many successive problems that afflict this
nation, eventually lead to to a big problem, namely the emergence of an
economic crisis. Economic crisis that befell the community in general is so
heavy and accumulates for quite a long time, so one of them influences the
ability of the community to obtain information important they need. This
information actually exists, but is difficult to obtain. Thing this is because of the
limitations and constraints of funds from information seekers. Other that, due
to a prolonged economic crisis, problems arise slowly or obstructed
development of information infrastructure to facilitate access to information,
which should be built by the government with the community. All of this in turn
makes people more difficult to access scientific information that they really

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need in the context of intelligence or in the framework of achieving welfare,
even though the information is actually available overflow.

Based on the above thoughts, the library needs to further enhance its role
in contributing to and accelerating the achievement of the coveted civil
society. In this case the library can function as a communication medium for
delivering information messages to the public. Although for that, in the midst
of the storm of the economic crisis that is sweeping the nation, libraries must
be smart to look for precise, conceptual, but practical steps to implement.
These steps, although they need to be consistent with the main tasks and
functions of the library, to sharpen specialization, but still need to be flexible in
the ways and techniques of achievement.

Economic principles that have long been implemented successfully in the

business world need to be implemented to ensure the continuity of activities.
But the social function of a library in the context of providing information to the
general public, may not be the time to be totally abandoned.

The problem in the world of scientific information, especially in Indonesia,

is the problem of limitations in accessing information. The information
provided is not yet able to meet the needs well information seekers, especially
scientific information in the field of science and technology. The cause of this
problem is not only because of the inability or lack of ability of information
seekers to access, both within skills and funds; but also the facilities and
facilities owned by information providers in general are very inadequate to
use.

Another problem too actually there are among the various providers of
scientific information in Indonesia is the lack of cooperation and a good
network system to establish a synergy in order to provide services information
together. This means that there is actually a lot of useful information but is
spread everywhere. There is no adequate and effective system and
mechanism to capture the information treasure into a nation's unity and wealth
so that it can meet the needs of information seekers. Based on its strategic

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position and the tasks it carries out and its potential, even though in conditions
of economic crisis, libraries can, among other things, act well in the
information era through a more accurate approach.

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 Part II
Library Development Strategy in Digital Age

The library can actually play a role in enhancing the ability of human
resources by providing information technology in Indonesia. However, how
strategic and high the ability of the library both in expertise, funding and
human resources the library will not be able to provide information on its own.
Collaboration from other information units that exist in all regions of the
country, with all the capabilities of the typical regional information, will greatly
assist in the provision of a variety of information technology in Indonesia.
Especially if it's already formed in a communication network system.

As is known that at this time the tendency of libraries and information

centers is no longer each enriching the treasure of information possessed, but
trying to enhance the ability to access information by providing facilities for
that. Because information available throughout the world can now be more
easily utilized by everyone. Therefore, even though an information center
does not have a large wealth of information, but has the ability to access high
information, then the information center will be able to provide better service.
This can be achieved, among others, by building information technology
facilities and network systems.

The network database that is formed will be better if not only in the form of
bibliographic data, however equipped with additional information such as abstract,
especially if with full text (full-text) for certain typical collections. Even if it can become
a wealth of information today known as "Knowledge Management". Where in a
database network system like this, not only collected data and information but also
expertise in the meaning of knowledge networks stored in experts. At present it is
actually known as some The library is competing to build a database in various fields,
for example Indonesian Institute of Sciences with a database of appropriate
technology that is classified as the most complete in Indonesia.

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 However, it would be more useful if for example a media was created that
collected the database that was owned, not only by the library but also other
information units which would have a mission with the library. Cloud storage can be
created by Indonesia as a practical and economical choice to accommodate the
database. Search software must be chosen which is already popular, common and
easy to use among users and intermediaries / information providers, namely:
librarians, documentalists and information experts), preferably in Indonesian and
English.

But the most important thing that is database technology with cloud computing
should be easily made by anyone who wants to make it and has a wealth of
databases. Therefore, the examples of appropriate technology must be chosen.
Indeed, today such technology is available in Indonesia. Indonesia has been able to
do it, after learning advanced and effective technologies that are developing today.
More importantly, the technology must be cheap, in the sense that it is the ultimate
information provider and ultimately the end user of the information.

As is known, some libraries already have databases stored in cloud computing.

But many of the library collections were made together with other information centers
abroad. The search program is not yet popular in Indonesia, and still uses English. Of
course it is realized that not all layers of information users can easily use the English
language search program properly. If you want to disseminate information more
widely to all levels of society, it is necessary to use an Indonesian language search
program so that it is easy to do. In addition, the library database in cloud computing
still joins the database from other countries. That is why, libraries also need to
provide media that holds local databases in cloud computing that are easy to make,
easy to use, easily disseminated and affordable. Of course the most important thing
is that the content of the information is very useful.

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 Part III
Library Co-operation Strategy

In order for an activity to take place continuously, various aspects need to

be considered. One aspect that is important is independence. Independence
here would be easily understood as an effort to carry out an activity without
being dependent on support from outside parties. Therefore, every business
needs to take into account the problem of funding sources for the continuity of
activities, easy technological issues and the availability of human resources
that can carry out various jobs. Based on experience so far, the problem of
human resources and technology is not too much of a problem. However,
regular and regular funding is often a barrier. Therefore, it is necessary to
think of a mode of providing and disseminating useful information, but it can
generate its own funds so that these activities can take place on an ongoing
basis. For that reason, the economic value of information needs to be more
socialized. Information as a commodity needs to be more refined analysis.
What form of information might be valued as a commodity.

Information as a commodity according to Blasius (1996) is actually only

limited to information that has gained added value. But this does not mean
that all services must be free. Services with a special degree of comfort or
have obtained special added value and cannot be funded by the government
can be implemented by charging fees. Funds collected in turn can be used to
improve the quality of the information provided.

Ibrahim in Mustafa (1998) gave an interesting view to pioneering the

commercialization of information services. Based on research conducted in
Malaysia, users are willing to pay for information for several reasons: they
need fast information, but do not have time to search for themselves;
information that fits their needs is presented in various sources, but they do
not know it; they need information that is ready to use, not information that still

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has to be extracted from various sources; or they have no skills in tracking
information.

Meanwhile, to ensure good cooperation and communication between

library service providers, various cooperation forums have now been formed.
For example the National University Library Forum and the Special Library
Forum were formed nationally. Even in each province similar forums are being
formed at the regional level. The existence of this forum would be able to
encourage the formation of network systems and cooperation and mutual
communication between library service providers from various types of
libraries in Indonesia.

But in Indonesia, for the development of libraries there is still a need for
other techniques or approaches that are usually quite effective. Mention the
technique is the approach system. This means that certain figures are needed
in certain positions, maybe parties outside the library, who can help the library
on various occasions to develop libraries. For this reason, the library needs to
look for such figures. Meanwhile, for example, for the university environment it
is necessary to establish harmonious relations between the library and the
department, so that mutually beneficial cooperation takes place. What
happens a lot in the environment of universities in Indonesia is that between
libraries and majors there is no good cooperative relationship, even tend to
blame each other. For this reason, the library can carry out various methods
or approaches to the education department.

But actually the most important of all so that the library gets attention is the
library needs to show first the work performance with the existing conditions
before demanding attention or assistance from the leadership. As a
benchmark is the standard of service. Actually service standards are what the
user wants, not what is said in the library service theory book.

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Internet as Global Library

Entering the era of globalization and information technology, library users

are increasingly dissatisfied with services that rely solely on printed
bibliographic data, as long as this is provided by the library. Now library users
have increasingly high demands, along with the development of information
technology. More information is presented than on printed media. Various
information has now been presented in a variety of media that are more
interesting and complete. Interesting because not only is it presented textually,
but it is combined with the media of still images, motion pictures, sound even
with hypertext / hyperlink systems. With cheaper prices, more information is
available in multi-media, full-text CD-ROM and in cloud computing.

For those who have internet access, they are increasingly free to access
more up-to-date information. Therefore information managers need to prepare
themselves better so that the library is not abandoned by its users. In addition,
librarians, if not better prepared, enter a century that is dense with the use of
technology, will be displaced by other professions in terms of providing and
accessing information. One shortcut to that direction in the midst of the
difficulties and limitations of infrastructure is to implement appropriate
technology in the library. The application of a computer-based appropriate
technology to improve service quality to users in a library certainly needs to
consider the factors of funding, human resources, hardware, and software.

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 Conclusion

The existence of the internet is an interesting thing that must be used

properly by librarians to improve the quality of their services. This new
phenomenon will change the principle of service that has been embraced by
the library which is enriching collections and increasing users to come to the
library. With the internet service paradigm needs to be changed to enhance
access to information and information sources. With the internet library
services will break the limitations of space and time and bureaucracy. But to
get to that condition librarians must prepare themselves by understanding
some technical and practical things about the characteristics of internet
service preparation.

Librarian need to concentrate on the content or content of information

rather than the internet infrastructure that has been initiated and handled by
the profession or other parties. Librarians need to change their attitudes and
work culture to fit the present conditions that require fast and precise but
efficient work. So it's not working hard but working right or smart. The
momentum of reform needs to be used to also carry out reforms in the field of
libraries, documentation and information towards more professional quality
services. In this reformation, in addition to being labor intensive and capital
intensive or in technology, it has also been necessary to be intensified by
creations. Especially among librarians. Therefore, librarians need to keep
abreast of developments by utilizing information and facilities more and more
is available. So in principle librarians need to change work patterns to be able
to keep up with developments properly.

However, information provider institutions such as libraries, which have

been known as institutions that are not yet commercially viable, must always
try to provide quality information services to their users. To achieve this, the
library needs to return to conceptual but practical steps in mitigating the
current economic crisis. The strategic position as a non-profit institution can

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be utilized by libraries to become the center of the development of a network
of national scientific information providers that can take part internationally.

Tactical and practical thinking and steps, in accordance with technological

advances, must also be developed to meet the information needs of the
community. A new approach to information services during the economic crisis
needs to be taken. One of them is by providing quality but affordable
information, but still providing economic value to the institution. Thus the
library can someday become a more independent institution in carrying out its
activities.

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