Weekends are the best time to enjoy ‘quality time’. And, there are lots of ways to enjoy ‘quality time’ on the weekend. Starting from watching your favorite film, just spending time with family or friends, visiting museums or city tours, to enjoying quiet time while reading your favorite book.
For those of you who love books, of course reading a book can be a very relaxing moment of ‘quality time’, right? So, if you are a book lover, this time Traveloka will discuss the best library destinations in Indonesia which could be the best ‘weekend getaway’ destinations to enjoy ‘quality time’. Are you curious about the most popular library destinations in Indonesia? Come on, check out the complete recommendations from Traveloka below:
7 List of the Best Libraries in Indonesia
1. National Library of the Republic of Indonesia
Location: Jl. Medan Merdeka Sel. No.11, Gambir, Gambir District, Central Jakarta City, Special Capital Region of Jakarta 10110
Ranked first in the best library destinations in Indonesia is the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia, or what is often referred to as ‘National Library’. In 2017, the new National Library Service Facilities Building was inaugurated. This building, which consists of 24 floors and 3 basement floors, rises to a height of 126.3 meters, making it the highest national library in the world.
Located on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan No.11, Jakarta, this best library destination in Indonesia is open to the public and is free. It’s just that the collection is closed and cannot be lent out to take home. Apart from presenting a very complete book collection, including rare books, various facilities are also available in this library, including an exhibition hall, audiovisual room, multimedia services and a canteen and various other facilities. Not only is it very big and iconic, the National Library is a very comfortable place to immerse yourself in enjoying your favorite reading.
2. Grhatama Pustaka Yogyakarta Library
Location: Jl. Raya Janti, Wonocatur, Banguntapan, District. Banguntapan, Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region 55198
Known as a student city, Yogyakarta also has a library that deserves to be among the best libraries in Indonesia, namely the Grhatama Pustaka Yogyakarta Library. Inaugurated directly by Sultan Hamengku Buwono
Each floor of the best library in Indonesia offers different collections. On the 1st floor there are facilities and collections for children, ranging from children’s book collections, children’s playrooms, music rooms, fairy tale rooms, to cinema film screening services.
Going up to the 2nd floor, you can find library membership services, general collections to braille and various other collections and services. Meanwhile, on the 3rd floor there are digital collection services, rare book collections, dictionaries & encyclopedias, magazine & newspaper collections, storage/library material storage collections and various other collections as well as audio-visual room facilities are also available on the top floor of the best library in Indonesia. This.
3. Bandung Microlibrary Library
Location: Jl. Bima No. 103, Arjuna, Kec. Cicendo, Bandung City, West Java 40172
For those of you who are in Bandung, there is a unique library that is no less interesting to visit. The name is Microlibrary Bandung. Located in Taman Bima, this best library destination in Indonesia has a very unique design because its facade is made from 2,000 waste plastic ice cream buckets arranged to form a binary code pattern which means ‘Books are the Window to the World’, very interesting, isn’t it?
In fact, this concept made this unique library awarded the Lafarge Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction Asia Pacific in 2017. Quite encouraging, right? Even though it is not large, various community activities are often held at this unique library in Bandung.
4. University of Indonesia Library, Depok
Location: Crystal of Knowledge Building, Jl. Lt. Gen. DR. Sjarif Thajeb, Pondok Cina, Beji District, Depok City, West Java 16424
Talking about the best libraries in Indonesia, it would be incomplete without including the University of Indonesia Library on the list. Even though it is located on the campus of the University of Indonesia, Depok, this library is also open to the general public, but the general public will be charged an entrance fee of IDR 10,000.00. Quite affordable, isn’t it?
Standing on an area of 2.5 hectares with a building area of around 33,000 square meters consisting of 8 floors, this best library in Indonesia is known as one of the largest libraries in Indonesia. Enriched with a book collection that is said to reach 3-5 million book titles, it is not surprising that the best library in Indonesia is also called the ‘Crystal of Knowledge”. Apart from the millions of book collections, there are various other supporting facilities in this library, including a reading room area, silent room, garden, restaurant and bookstore.
5. Soeman HS Library, Pekanbaru
Location: Jl. Gen. Sudirman No. 462, Jadirejo, Kec. Sukajadi, Pekanbaru City, Riau 28126
If the best library destinations in Indonesia were previously in Java, the next recommendation is located on Sumatra Island, to be precise in Pekanbaru City, Riau. The Soeman HS Library is a library which was inaugurated on October 28 2008 and was named after a poet from Riau, namely Soeman HS. Having very distinctive and iconic architecture makes this the best library in Indonesia also known as one of the landmarks in Pekanbaru City.
This best library in Indonesia has a collection of up to 200,000 copies. Among these collections, there is also a fairly complete collection of Malay literature which is all neatly stored in ‘Bilik Melayu’. Apart from that, the Soeman HS Library is also equipped with other facilities such as an auditorium, atrium, meeting room, Internet room, prayer room, canteen, and also the Energy Corner (Chevron Library).
6. Malahayati University Library, Bandar Lampung
Location: Jl. Scout No.27, Sumber Rejo, Kec. Kemiling, Bandar Lampung City, Lampung 35151
Still located in Sumatra, the Malahayati University Library is the next best library destination in Indonesia which has been established since 1993. Located within the Malahayati University area, this library has an elongated building shape so it is often called the longest library in Indonesia.
What’s unique is that in this library there are several miniature traditional houses in Indonesia which function as meeting rooms and can be used as a space for discussions. The various facilities and collections of printed to digital books in this library are not only open to Malahayati University students, but are also open to the public. However, make sure you register for membership first, so you can enjoy all the collections and facilities at one of the best libraries in Indonesia.
7. Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Library
Location: ITB Ganesa Campus area, Jl. Ganesha No.10, Lb. Siliwangi, Coblong District, Bandung City, West Java 40132
Founded in 1920, the next best library in Indonesia has popularity not only within but also abroad because of its quality book collections and wide coverage in all fields of science.
Having a long history, this library consists of 4 floors, each floor has different book collections. Other supporting facilities such as prayer rooms, bookstores, multipurpose rooms and audiovisual rooms are also available in one of the best libraries in Indonesia.
Having a long history, this library consists of 4 floors, each floor has different book collections. Other supporting facilities such as prayer rooms, bookstores, multipurpose rooms and audiovisual rooms are also available in one of the best libraries in Indonesia.
It turns out, being able to enjoy ‘quality time’ doesn’t need to be expensive and difficult, right? The best library destinations in Indonesia above not only have abundant book collections, but are also quite easy to visit and of course at very affordable prices! Are you ready to sink into your favorite books this weekend? Which of the best libraries in Indonesia is your favorite destination?