The importance of the principal’s role in developing child-friendly libraries

For more than a month the Taman Bacaan Pelangi team has been in Ende for developing a child-friendly library. During one month of school selection process, we met many principals in Ende district.

And of course, the Taman Bacaan Pelangi team started from introducing Taman Bacaan Pelangi as a non-profit organization and then explaining the library development program. Although we share the same information, however, the response of each principal is different. This may be influenced by the vision of the principal, how they plan school development program and it may be influenced by how many years they become principals.

 

The role of the principal in creating a child-friendly library is very crucial. An indicator of the cooperation with Taman Bacaan Pelangi, the commitment of the principal becomes one of the most important points. The principal is expected to improve and encourage teachers’ motivation and commitment and improve the meaningful cooperation with the school community to make the school a comfortable place for learning for children, and to develop the library into a friendly environment for children to dream and later on, achieve their goals.

 

The principal is expected to have a good leadership capacities or skills, visionary, good communication skills, the ability to listen actively. In addition, of course, the ability to solve problems and high creativity is also crucial for them.

 

The Taman Bacaan Pelangi team has often met with dedicated principals during the development of libraries in West Manggarai, such as Mr. Leonardus from SDI Namo and Mr. Saverinus from SDI Beci. Mr. Leo and Saverinus are strongly committed to improving children’s reading skills and children’s creativity.

 

One time the Taman Bacaan Pelangi team contacted Mr. Saverinus to deliver a big book competition. This competition is informed from outside the city, because the Taman Bacaan Pelangi team is working from Ende District.

 

“How is the implementation of big book competition?”

 

“It’s well implemented Sir, even all students join the competition, and then we will send students’ best result to Taman Bacaan Pelangi”

 

This makes the team from Taman Bacaan Pelangi touched. In fact, at that time, the time for competition was very limited and it only takes 10 children to compete.

 

But Mr. Saverinus contacted all the teachers, and all the students took part in this competition, and the 10 best student’s works were finally sent to Taman Bacaan Pelangi.

 

A good principal will of course bring a positive impact to school and spread a postive energy for children’s spirit of learning and pursuing dreams.

 

Similarly, we found the same experience when the Taman Bacaan Pelangi Team met with the principal in Ende District. The principal is very passionate about the program. However, the enthusiasm is sometimes not enough, but it also needs a commitment so that a child friendly library can be utilized as much as possible for the needs of elementary school children in Ende.

 

A good principal will be an example for the entire school community. A good principal, of course, has a good relationship with the school community (parents and school committee). Child friendly library program not only belongs to a principal, but the delivery of information of every activity in school, of course through the principal first. That is why the role of the principal is very important in efforts to increase literacy. Can you imagine how if all the information is only kept by the principal himself without informing to other teachers and school community? School will never be better, wont they?

In Ende district, we met a principal who was strongly committed to the importance of increasing children’s reading interest. Principals in 18 Elementary Schools in Ende are willing to work together with school community to develop the first child-friendly library in Ende district. Of course, it is expected that this spirit will continue until the time when libraries really work optimally. The principal is willing to work hard for the education advancement in Ende. It is really a good news for us…

 

 

Salam literasi,

 

 

Adhimas Wijaya