National Library: an important appointment I had was at the National Library of Indonesia. It has the distinction of being "the tallest library in the world." Opened in 2017, it is a beautiful skyscraper in the heart of Jakarta, rising 24 floors high. Services and collections are on every floor (here). Top: various views of the library: from afar, at the entrance, in the lobby looking up. Bottom: On the top (24th) floor's observation deck, with Indonesian library colleagues, overlooking Jakarta.
National Library speaker: I had the honor of being invited by the Director of the National Library of Indonesia, Mr. Muhammad Syarif Bando (left in the flyer below), to give a nationwide webinar broadcast. I spoke on best practices of libraries in both the U.S. and Asia. Over 700 librarians across Indonesia attended. Top left: the publicity flyer for the presentation. Top right: An informal moment after the broadcast: lunch with National Library of Indonesia colleagues. Bottom: speaking at the broadcast studio stage.
University of Indonesia Library visit: The University of Indonesia's Library is a innovative, eco-friendly building built right into the landscaping: next to a lake, and with a green grass roof. Left: the beautiful library exterior; Right: the first floor lobby of the library is comprised of a food court and shops. Wow! Now that's an innovative way to attract students to the library!
Collaboration meetings: Left: I had a "sharing of best practices" meeting with the senior leadership of the University of Indonesia Library. To the left of me is the UI Library Director, Ms. Mariyah, and to my right is the former library director, Dr. Luki Wijayanti (now emeritus director and consultant), whom I have known for 17 years! We are all giving an enthusiastic "L" for "Library" sign. Right: meeting with senior officers of the University of Indonesia's International Office, Ms. Suyanti Adi Pawiro (International Partnership Coordinator) and Ms. Alfrida Hutapea (International Mobility Coordinator), on providing library training videos for both Indonesian students coming to CSUF and CSUF students coming to UI.
Gadjah Mada University Library visit. This is another prominent university in Indonesia, in the city of Yogyakarta. Below Left: with Library Officer Dr. Safirotu Khoir, at the entrance of the UGM Library. The library has adopted innovative modernizations and new features. For example, Below Right: a new group collaboration leisure room, right inside the library, promoting social interaction and learning. (I'm testing it out, with a hole-in-one!)
Gadjah Mada University invited lectures. UGM invited me to present two lectures (live + webinar). The first addressed best practices of academic libraries (from my 2019 book data), and the second commented on LIS education in Asia (from my 2020 book chapter data). Top: flyer for my first lecture, and presenting before the audience & webcam. Bottom: second lecture flyer, and some of the LIS students attending. Note: my UGM hosts pasted-in a photo of me from a lecture I gave in 2012! That's why I look like I time-travelled to be a decade younger, ha ha.
Gift exchanges with UGM LIS faculty: Left: presenting CSUF gifts to Dr. Safirotu Khoir and Dr. Ida Priyanto. Right: later, happily wearing a "Gadjah Mada University" shirt presented to me.
Islamic University of Indonesia Library visit. This academic library (private religious university) was fascinating to visit. It contains a notable collection of Indonesian Islamic sources. When the library was being constructed, the builders unearthed a pre-Islamic Hindu temple on the site. So, out of archeological respect, they changed the library design and built the library around the temple. Top Left: aerial view of the library, curved around the the Hindu ruins. Top Right: at the library's lobby entrance. Bottom left: with IUI Library officials (& Dr. Ida Priyanto, UGM). Bottom right: next to the Hindu stone carvings, close-up.
Yogyakarta Provincial Public Library. This library, equivalent to a state library, is the main provincial library for Yogyakarta province, and includes several branches. The library receives good support from the provincial government. It has all the various aspects of a public library: Reference, children's collection, bookmobiles, archives, etc. Top left: a selfie of the Library's front exterior. Top right: a great slogan on their Info/Circulation Desk! Bottom right: the library loans out free folding book trays for floor seating...very cool. Bottom right: I caught a matinee puppet show in the children's library (terrific performance!)
Brawijaya University Library presentation. Dr. Welmin Suharto, LIS professor at Brawijaya University, invited me to present to over 100 BLIS students at Brawijaya University, in Malang, Indonesia. At first it didn't seem like it would be possible, as I couldn't travel there in time for the M-F school week. But she organized it as a Saturday event (with lunch for all the attendees) and the turnout was still impressive. Wow! Below: Addressing the audience, and a surprise banner (I didn't expect that!)
Below: A gesture of cooperative friendship with the Dean of the College and LIS leaders, and exchanging gifts with Dr. Welmin Suharto (Indonesian fabric from her, American cookies from me).
Brawijaya University Library visit. Below: at the entrance of the Brawijaya library ("Perpustakaan" is Indonesian for Library), and the new, colorful Information Commons area of the library's first floor lobby.
Petra Christian University Library presentation. I was invited to speak to a regional association of Indonesian librarians (southeastern Java), held at the library of Petra Christian University in Surabaya. My inviting host was Dr. Aditya Nugraha, director of the university's Excellence in Learning and Teaching Center, and former director of the library (whom I first met in 2005--17 years ago!) Below: Left: At the Library building entrance. Right: Interacting with some of the audience participants.
Petra Christian University Library visit. Below: Left: a time warp photo! Aditya & I in 2005 in the library lobby, and then in the exact same spot, 17 years later, in 2022. Right: testing out the library's new Virtual Reality lab.
Singapore National Library visit. In central Singapore is the National Library, a beautiful 16-floor, glass-walled (natural lighting) building, constructed in 2005. Left: exterior photo of the library. Right: at the ground-level entrance signs (for the Children's Library and Reference Library).
Singapore Public Libraries visits. Singapore has 26 public libraries across the small island country. All are modern, well supplied & funded, technologically advanced, and robust with library outreach services. Left: outside one of the branches next to their book lockers (same as CSUF's book lockers). Right: discussing public library Best Practices with Singapore public librarian Kavita Ilangovan, participant in the ALA ASEAN Sister Library grant project.
Singapore Academic Library visits. Singapore has 6 universities. The libraries at the top three are world-class, with full services and technological innovations. For example, below are: Left: National University of Singapore's central library entrance, featuring natural lighting and spacious, casual seating for collaborative group learning. Right: Nanyang Technological University's library, featuring colorful group discussion pods.