Upaya Dinas Perpustakaan dan Arsip Provinsi Sumatera Utara dalam Pengembangan Minat Baca

Abstract

Reading interest is one of the fundamental aspects in improving the quality of human resources and building a culture of literacy in society. Libraries, as centers of information, education, and recreation, play an important role in fostering reading habits. The Library and Archives Office of North Sumatra Province has actively encouraged the development of public reading interest. The purpose of this study is to identify and describe the efforts of the Library and Archives Office of North Sumatra Province in developing public reading interest. This research employed a descriptive method. Data were collected through literature review, observation, interviews with librarians, and documentation. The results of the study indicate that the Library and Archives Office of North Sumatra has implemented various strategies, including the procurement and enhancement of collections each year, the provision of mobile library services to reach remote areas, the development of reading corners and reading points, as well as the implementation of the Literacy Safari program involving schools and communities. In addition, technology-based promotion, improving the quality of librarians through training and competency tests, as well as upgrading facilities and infrastructure, are also integral parts of these efforts. These various measures have had a positive impact in expanding access and encouraging the public to be more engaged with reading materials. However, several challenges remain, such as budget limitations, insufficient mobile library fleets, limited professional human resources, and low public awareness of the importance of reading. In conclusion, the Library and Archives Office of North Sumatra Province plays an active role in developing reading interest, although cross-sectoral support, enhanced facilities, and more innovative promotional strategies are still needed to achieve optimal results.