Hunting Books for Open Library

When he was studying at the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta in 2000-2004, Ahmad Arif, 37, attended all book launches and discussions. Later, the “book guerrilla” would move to establish a library for Aceh residents.

KOMPAS/ZULKARNAINI

Ahmad Arif

When he was studying at the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta in 2000-2004, Ahmad Arif, 37, attended all book launches and discussions. He wanted to first gain knowledge and, second, get free books. Later, the “book guerrilla” would move to establish a library for Aceh residents.

The library is open every Sunday in one corner of Blang Padang Square in Banda Aceh. On the morning of Sept. 9, the Minggu Baca Rame-rame (Mibara) library was crowded. Several visitors were seen reading books while others returned the titles they had finished reading. Arif and four volunteers helped them.

Mibara library has a catalog of 14,000 books. Each Sunday, the library brings 500 titles to the square by pedicab for people to read freely on a rug.

It is surprising that the library attracts thousands of people annually. In 2016, 3,181 people borrowed 11,738 books. Meanwhile, in 2017 and 2018, 4,812 people borrowed 16,438 titles.

The library spread like a virus, its volunteers also establishing libraries. Today, Mibara volunteers run 37 libraries in nine regencies and municipalities in Aceh.

The movement started following the powerful earthquake and tsunami that hit Aceh in 2004. Arif, who was studying at Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic University at the time, returned to his hometown to help the victims. He joined a volunteer team to help distribute relief aid.

In March 2005, Arif cut his studies short to join the foreign aid agency Qatar Charity for Aceh, where he still works. The same year, he married Rizky Sopya.

As a humanitarian professional, he tried to keep people’s hopes up by opening a library. In 2013, Arif transformed a room in his house into a public library. He brought to Banda Aceh around 2,000 books and journals and 1,000 magazines that he had collected during his university studies. He also bought shelves and other needs.

Arif and his wife also taught to Banda Aceh courses at their house. They called the library Rumah Baca Aneuk Nanggroe (Ruman). Unfortunately, the library did not attract many readers. “Perhaps the fact it was in a [private] house deterred people from coming,” said Arif.

One day, when he was exercising at Blang Padang Square, Arif thought, why not bring the books to the square so that the people don’t have to come to the library? Blang Padang Square is a public place where the residents pursue sports or exercise every weekend.

In February 2014, using a pedicab, Arif brought hundreds of books to Blang Padang, placed them on a rug and hung a banner that reads “Minggu Baca Rame-rame (Mibara)”, or “Sunday reading time”, so people would be aware. The books consisted of religious titles, novels, children’s stories and textbooks.

The first Sunday, no visitors came. Arif was thought to be eccentric because the library was unusual. Later, however, the visitors came and their numbers grew.

Arif said the residents could not believe they could borrow the books by only providing their phone numbers. Libraries usually have other procedures to complete before people can take books home, such as issuing a membership card, and have penalties for not returning books on time. “At Mibara, there is only trust,” said Arif.

Losing books

Because of the growing number of visitors, Arif invited students to volunteer in serving them. Mibara currently has 16 volunteers that rotate in fours each week. "The volunteers are not paid, but I give them meals. They are happy to be involved in this movement, " said Arif.

However, three borrowed books were never returned. Arif was disappointed, because the titles were old and out-of-print editions. The borrower\'s telephone number had been deactivated. Arif felt betrayed by the reader. He closed Mibara.

The volunteers did not agree with closing the library just because of the three missing books. Mibara\'s goal was to bring books to the people; the books that did not return meant that they had found their readers. Eventually, Arif accepted this.

One day, his disappointment turned into joy and gratitude. A resident offered to donate books to Mibara. Arif went to the resident\'s house to pick up the books, and was surprised to discover 1,935 titles.

“This is a gift from God after I allowed the borrowers to take my three books,” he said.

Today, Mibara has 14,000 titles in its collection. Around 95 percent of the books were donated. Arif keeps a neat record of the donors. The record is periodically uploaded to social media. "It turned out that many people cared and wanted to share. I am growing more enthusiastic [that] this social movement must continue, "said Arif.

Mibara’s student volunteers spread the literacy movement to the regions. They opened libraries in their homes or in public spaces. Arif supported them by lending books.

Arif said that the concept of an outdoor library was more effective than those located inside the building, because an indoor library seemed formal with many rules and regulations, while an outdoor library gave people more freedom. People could read while eating, listening to music or other activities. Arif hoped that Mibara’s concept could be imitated in many regions so it would become more widespread.

“If the government adopts this concept, I believe it would be even more effective, because the government has additional facilities and resources,” he said.

Arif has opened the door wide to the local community and to those struggling to develope a literacy movement. Indonesia lag far behind other countries in Asia in reading interests, but for Arif, improving the situation does not mean running. Even small steps can make a difference as long as they are steady and consistent.

KOMPAS/ZULKARNAINI

Ahmad Arif

Born: Southeast Aceh, March 12, 1981

Wife: Rizky Sopya

Children: Faiz Fatih Arifqi and Nazia Mutaza Arifqi

Education: UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta (2000-2004, uncompleted)

Occupation: Staffer, Qatar Charity Indonesia-Aceh

Organization: Founder and coordinator, Rumah Baca Aneuk Nanggroe