The concept of a child-friendly library at SDI Tibakisa has been running for almost six months since its inauguration in November 2023. Its utilization and management have started to run smoothly. Several students were observed coming and going into the library room. Some took books to borrow and read at home, while others read directly inside the library with its predominantly green background. They were sitting on cushions, leaning against the walls, reclining a little, or simply returning books borrowed earlier. The library is now comfortable and neatly organized, the books are easily accessible, and students can easily choose books to read. Regular class visits to the library always color the library’s days.

Not only students but also some teachers visit the library during their free time between classes to rest their bodies and minds after teaching, while reading some of the collection’s books. Some teachers also don’t want to be left behind in borrowing books from the library, usually for Reading aloud activities preparation. Some teachers intentionally borrow books from the library to read or read to their children who are still in kindergarten or even pre-school.

Bu Eti, a teacher of grade IIIA at SDI Tibakisa

Maria Goreti Wea Aso, a third-grade teacher, is one of the teachers who tries to maximize the use of this child-friendly library. During her 14 years of service, Bu Eti, as she is usually called, has only encountered the concept of a child-friendly library for the first time now. As if finding something precious, Bu Eti strives to make the most of the current library. The collection of books in the library is used by this woman who has been building her career since 2007 at SDI Tibakisa, to accompany her students in reading, as well as her daughter who is still in kindergarten.

 

Putra, who is now in class IIIA, has improved his reading skills since Bu Eti, as his homeroom teacher, regularly accompanies him, utilizing the children’s book collection from the library. Initially, Bu Eti had a bit of trouble teaching her son to read using the textbooks in the classroom. “It seems like because there’s too much text, and no pictures, he’s reluctant to read that thematic book, Ma’am. If you look at the books in the library now, they have a lot of pictures and few words, so he prefers those, Ma’am, and other kids are the same way,” said Bu Eti after trying to help Putra with the book collection in the child-friendly library. As a result, Putra now frequently reads and borrows books from the library according to his reading ability.

Bu Eti and grade IIIA students were doing a library visit

Bu Eti also communicates with Putra’s parents to join in accompanying him in reading borrowed books at home. This initiative is well-received by Putra’s parents; whenever they borrow a book, they set aside time to accompany him in reading at home. Certainly, not only Putra’s parents, communication is also conducted with other students’ parents. Bu Eti acknowledges that building communication with parents is a good thing so that parents also participate in observing their child’s progress and development. This shows that building communication with parents is also important because after parents implement Bu Eti’s advice to accompany their children, they become aware of their child’s reading abilities, and it makes them realize the importance of guidance at home. Moreover, it can also further build a good relationship and trust between teachers and parents to exchange information about students’ progress both at school and at home.

 

In addition to Putra, other students in class IIIA are also very enthusiastic about reading and borrowing books from the library. This is evidenced by the borrowing data for three months from January to March 2024, where class IIIA had the highest number of borrowings. Bu Eti revealed that since the library was renovated into a child-friendly library, outside of the regular library visiting hours every week, during break time when most students, after eating their packed lunch or having lunch, always make time to visit the library. The growing enthusiasm of her students for reading is also utilized by Bu Eti to fill in breaks during class. Sometimes, if students start to look bored with the lesson or lose focus, Bu Eti usually stops and goes to the library to get some books and distributes them to the students to read. To reignite their enthusiasm, as Bu Eti puts it.

Bu Eti was guiding Rianti, her daughter who is still sitting in a kindergarten, to read in the library

Rianti, a kindergarten student whose building is adjacent to SDI Tibakisa, also takes advantage of the child-friendly library. The daughter of Bu Eti doesn’t want to be left behind by the SD children; every time school ends, Rianti makes time to visit the library. Seeing Rianti enthusiastic about the books in the library during her visits, Bu Eti seizes this moment. Bu Eti tries to borrow books to read at home together with Rianti. Initially, Bu Eti reads the borrowed books to Rianti, usually after lunch. After that, Rianti usually tries to repeat what Bu Eti has read with her best version. As time goes by, Rianti seems to be addicted to the books in the SD library. Every day, Rianti always asks Bu Eti to borrow books, and Bu Eti will first read the book to Rianti, then Rianti will repeat it in her own version.

 

Rianti’s enthusiasm is actually contagious to her siblings. When playing or meeting with her siblings, Rianti usually encourages them to read the books she borrowed from the child-friendly library. In addition to reading, Rianti also teaches her siblings how to turn pages properly, something she learned from Bu Eti, so that the books stay in good condition.”