•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   
•    EYEWITNESS   

There’s a common perception among people in Jakarta that a library is an uncomfortable, boring or even spooky place, where dusty books are scattered everywhere.

That’s not the case at Perpustakaan Freedom (Freedom Library), a public library on Jalan Proklamasi in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

Every day, the library, which seems like an exciting oasis in an otherwise plain library desert, is packed with people who come to read quietly in a comfortable environment.

In a city where public spaces are still hard to find, Freedom Library is a blessing. Owned by the Freedom Institute, which describes itself as the “Center for Democracy, Nationalism and Market Economy Studies,” the library opened late last year and was inaugurated by Vice President Boediono.

Visitors will find that Freedom Library is different from other facilities they’ve visited. The library is located on the ground level of a beautiful minimalist, three-story building that resembles a roofless rectangle.

The aesthetic warmth of the library permeates the entrance corridor, where you can see the rest of the facility through the large windows. Decorative wooden touches, such as ornate window frames, dominate the interior design, while the walls are decorated with photographs of Indonesian presidents and famous quotes, among them some apt words from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “To rule is easy, to govern difficult.”

The library is filled with wooden tables and cubicles that can accommodate dozens of visitors, the majority of whom are university students who come to study or work on research projects.

Freedom Library now has more than 12,000 book titles and 27,000 journals. Foreign magazines and newspapers are also available.

Outside of the facility, visitors will find a small green garden that provides a social hub for visitors. There is also a coffee shop nearby, which is the perfect spot for people to enjoy some fresh air and caffeine while reading a good book. The garden also frequently hosts cultural events and social and political discussions.

Oscar Gerhat is a librarian who manages a library in the Sudirman area. As a book-lover, he says he enjoys spending time at Freedom Library.

“It’s a very comfortable library,” he said. “I love spending hours here.”

Oscar said that a good library shouldn’t always be big. “As long as it has a nice ambience and good books, people will come,” he said, adding that the city needs more public libraries like Freedom.

The library also has several cozy couches and reclining chairs, so visitors can get comfortable while enjoying their reading picks from the library’s wide selection of books, journals and other publications.

To support and encourage constructive discussions among young minds, a special discussion room is also available for use; this way, a heated discussion will not disturb those who want to read in peace.

To provide ample reading light, the facility is equipped with aluminum lamps hanging from the ceiling. And the large windows successfully create the illusion that the library is even more spacious.

The windows also create an internal green space by allowing abundant views of the grass, plants and trees outside. And the facility is clean, which adds to its overall comfort.

The library also has other modern conveniences such as air-conditioning and free Internet access.

And the best part of Freedom Library is that it is free and open to the public so anyone can come in and enjoy a good read in comfort.

With its welcoming environment and extensive collection, Freedom Library may quickly become the new hot spot for people in the capital who want to experience something different.

Meanwhile, for book-lovers, this place will become a new haven.

Freedom Library
Wisma Proklamasi
Jl. Proklamasi No. 41
Menteng
Central Jakarta

 

Tel. 021 3190 9226

 

Monday-Friday:9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

 

Saturday-Sunday:10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

freedom-institute.org