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“Nemu Buku” Literacy Driving Center and Community Creative Space in Palu City

Nemu buku.jpg

Nemu Buku library

Amid the average reading interest that tends to decline in Indonesia, a number of communities, citizen libraries or literacy groups in the country are trying to stay afloat. They are able to exist, due to the role as well as that of the community or the activists in it.


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By Nurhadi Sucahyo

Source: SBS



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Amid the average reading interest that tends to decline in Indonesia, a number of communities, citizen libraries or literacy groups in the country are trying to stay afloat. They are able to exist, due to the role as well as that of the community or the activists in it.


Nemu Buku is a literacy community in Palu City, Central Sulawesi, founded by Neni Muhyiddin in 2007 utilizing his family home as a library.

This community was able to survive almost 20 years because it was managed collectively by members from different disciplines who made it a gathering place, meeting, creating events, to managing book collections.

According to one of his librarians, Adi Atmadja, the concept of literacy here goes beyond mere read-write, where books become a connecting means for wider interaction.

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The atmosphere of a discussion about Palu's liquefaction at Nemu Buku. Credit: Heri/rindang.ID

In addition to providing reading materials, Nemu Buku actively organizes various activities such as author discussions, Cinema Fridays, art exhibitions, music performances, and book launches.

To bring books closer to the public, its activists also run a mobile library on motorcycles, because they believe that reading interest will arise if it is given access.

In operational terms, Nemu Buku relies on the care of its workers, donor assistance, as well as grant programs independently without relying on support from the government.

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