DELI SERDANG | INDATANEWS.COM - Padepokan Iqro in Kolam Village has been named the best library in the Deli Serdang Regency Best Village Library Competition. The award was presented by the Chairperson of the Deli Serdang Regency TP PKK, Jelita Asri Ludin Tambunan, during the closing ceremony of the competition on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the Sofyan Tan Hall on the second floor of the Deli Serdang Regency Regional Library.
The achievement of
Padepokan Iqro in
Kolam Village is part of efforts to strengthen the role of village libraries. These facilities are expected not merely to serve as places to store and lend books, but also to develop into learning spaces that provide direct benefits to the community.
On the occasion, Jelita Asri Ludin Tambunan commended all participants who had contributed to the development of libraries in their respective villages. She said participation in the competition demonstrated that library managers were committed and attentive to strengthening the role of libraries within their communities.
Jelita emphasized that the conclusion of the competition should by no means mark the end of library activities. She called on library managers to maintain operations and continue providing services to the community after the entire competition series had ended.
"A library must not only be active when a competition is being held. After the competition ends, its activities and services for the community must continue," she said.
Libraries Must Remain Active
Jelita considers the presence of village libraries an important element in providing communities with access to knowledge. For this reason, library activities must be sustained so that their presence is genuinely felt and their services are utilized by residents.
According to Jelita, village libraries can serve as learning spaces for children where they can read while broadening their horizons. Reading areas within villages give children opportunities to spend time outside school engaged in activities that help expand their knowledge.
Jelita therefore hopes library managers will make optimal use of their operating hours. They must also ensure that libraries remain open and provide services to residents in accordance with their planned programs and activities.
The message also highlights the importance of sustainable library management. The competition should serve as an impetus for improving quality, while the benefits libraries provide to the community must continue even after the assessment and award ceremony have concluded.
Jelita also reminded participants that village libraries hold a strategic position in building a reading culture from an early age. Children need spaces that encourage them to become familiar with books, develop reading habits and acquire knowledge beyond the school environment.
RECOGNITION FOR VILLAGE LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT: Chairperson of the Deli Serdang Regency TP PKK
Jelita Asri Ludin Tambunan recognizes competition participants for their efforts to develop libraries in their respective villages. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
Promoting a Reading Culture
In addition to maintaining services, Jelita called on village library managers to continue developing innovative and creative programs. In her view, providing a collection of reading materials alone is not enough to advance a library. Various activities are needed to encourage residents to visit libraries and make use of the available facilities.
Innovative and creative approaches by library managers are expected to bring libraries closer to the needs of their communities. Through active management, libraries can become an integral part of learning and knowledge development at the village level.
Jelita hopes the enthusiasm demonstrated by all village library managers who participated in the competition will be maintained. Awards and achievements should serve as motivation to improve services rather than become the ultimate objective of library development.
She also hopes village libraries can contribute to building a reading culture throughout Deli Serdang Regency. In her view, reading habits among residents must be continuously encouraged through a supportive environment and easy access to reading materials.
Ultimately, these efforts are expected to improve the community's level of knowledge while contributing to education and public awareness in Deli Serdang. Village libraries are well positioned to play this role because they are located close to residents and can be directly accessed and utilized by the community.
PROMOTING A READING CULTURE: Chairperson of the Deli Serdang Regency TP PKK Jelita Asri Ludin Tambunan calls on village library managers to continue developing innovative and creative programs to strengthen the reading culture among the community. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
Managers Urged to Ensure Sustainability
The success of Padepokan Iqro in Kolam Village in the Deli Serdang Regency Best Village Library Competition represents recognition of the efforts made by its managers to develop the library at the village level. At the same time, the achievement carries the responsibility of ensuring that the library's activities and services are maintained sustainably.
Jelita once again emphasized the importance of continuing library activities after the competition. In her view, residents must continue to benefit from the library's existence, both through reading activities and other services developed by its managers.
The message also applies to all village libraries that participated in the competition. Their respective managers are encouraged to further develop the potential of their libraries in accordance with the needs of their communities.
The competition is therefore expected to be more than an event to identify the best library. It should also serve as an impetus for more active management of village libraries. Libraries that continuously provide activities and services can become spaces that support the learning process of the community.
The closing ceremony of the Deli Serdang Regency Best Village Library Competition was also attended by the Head of the Deli Serdang Regency Library and Archives Office and staff members. Managers of the village libraries participating in the competition were also present.
The presentation of the award to
Padepokan Iqro in
Kolam Village marked the conclusion of the competition series. Following the event, library managers are expected to maintain their enthusiasm for developing libraries and ensure that services to the community continue on an ongoing basis.
Sustaining library activities is essential so that village libraries do not merely exist as facilities, but become vibrant spaces that provide tangible benefits to the community. With support from library managers and the village environment, as well as optimal use of operating hours, libraries can continue to serve as places where children read, learn and broaden their horizons.
Building a
reading culture also requires consistency. Therefore, the message that libraries must not be active only during competitions should be taken seriously by all village library managers across Deli Serdang Regency.
In this regard, the award received by Padepokan Iqro in Kolam Village should not be remembered merely as a competition achievement. Instead, it can serve as an incentive to continuously develop library activities and expand their benefits for the community. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Edi Saputra | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala