| dc.description.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. | en_US |
