Empowering Rural Literacy: Cross-Sector Collaboration and the Sustainability of Community Libraries in Lombok, Indonesia
Community libraries are a form of non-formal education that has emerged in various regions of Lombok Island in response to the community's low reading interest, particularly in rural areas. This study aims to describe the conditions and challenges faced by library communities on Lombok Island and analyze their role in improving the local community's literacy culture. The study employed a qualitative descriptive approach involving a systematic literature review, in which academic literature and credible internet sources were identified, screened, and assessed following the PRISMA protocol, and then analyzed through document analysis. The results show that community reading parks are spread across West Lombok, Central Lombok, North Lombok, and East Lombok, with various establishment paths, ranging from village youth initiatives to collaborations with non-governmental organizations and the government. Most reading parks face similar challenges, namely manager cadre development, limited book collections, and uneven government support across regions. On the other hand, community libraries serve as cross-community meeting spaces, driving collaborative literacy activities and preserving local traditions, with networks such as the Lontar Foundation and Lombok Pintar connecting existing reading parks and new communities in various districts. Research concludes that community libraries play a strategic yet fragile role in strengthening local literacy culture; consequently, capacity building for managers, equitable government support, and expanded cross-sector collaboration are key determinants of sustainability.
Keywords: Community library, Community Reading Park, Literacy culture, Literature study.
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