Classroom Library: From the Students, For the Students

ONE of the problems students face is a shortage of text books. These books, which are must-have books for students are not always easy to get hold of. Usually, students who need text books can borrow them from the school library. However, knowing that the number of students at school far exceeds the quantity of books, it is not easy for students to borrow books from the school library.

To overcome this kind of problem, some DBE3 partner schools in Jepara and Kudus have started to set up classroom libraries. The libraries are intended to help students in providing text books which they need for their lessons. These libraries are managed by students.

There are at least two advantages that students get from these classroom libraries. First, they have easy access to books they need. Second, they learn how to manage a library. Before managing classroom libraries, the students received training on library management.

MTs Ismailiyah in Nalumsari, Jepara, conducted training on library management for its students and members of OSIS (the student organization). Likewise, SMP NU Assalam Nalumsari, Jepara did similar training supported by parents. At SMPN 1 Tahunan and MTs Masalikil Huda, parents supported school libraries by donating book shelves. The classroom libraries at SMPN 1 Tahunan are very useful for the students.

The students borrow the books almost everyday. Ibu Ngatiah, class teacher of VIIA, said that because the demand for books is high, the library needed to revise its schedule to ensure that all students were able to have access to the books they needed.

Ibu Ngatiah said that the classroom libraries made students more eager to read. They preferred reading to doing other activities when they had spare time. Some of them even wrote down their thoughts in poems or short stories which have been displayed in the classrooms.

In Kudus, the libraries are highly appreciated by students. Falihatul Hibriza, an 8th grade student at MTsN Kaliwungu, Kudus, said that thanks to the library he has got easy access to the text books, novels and other books. He can borrow or read the books easily at anytime he wants, during the break or when the teacher is absent.