The First Environmentally Friendly Library is Present in Maros, Furniture Made from 280 Kg of Recycled Plastic Bottles

Dream - Sustaining the environment can be done not only by avoiding plastic waste or recycling waste. With the same goal, a library can also serve as a medium to campaign for environmental-friendly programs.

This concept is embodied in a library that is now enjoyed by 261 students from SDN 48 Bonta, Kapetta, in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi (Sulsel). An environmentally friendly library with a green library concept is present as a source of quality reading books for the future generation of the nation.

The green library concept is established by Taman Bacaan Pelangi in collaboration with The Body Shop Indonesia. The environmentally friendly concept is reflected in the use of furniture that is entirely made from recycled bottles packaging of The Body Shop products.

"This child-friendly library is a good collaboration for the future in order to improve the quality of education," said the Regent of Maros Regency, Chaidir Syam, who appreciates the establishment of this environmentally friendly library in a written statement from Taman Bacaan Pelangi received by Dream, Tuesday, November 1, 2022.

Furniture Made from 180 Kg of Used Bottles Packaging from The Body Shop

Nila Tanzil, Founder of TB Pelangi, said that the Green library built in Maros is the first "green" library established by her organization. The interesting idea behind this "Green Library" is that the library furniture is made from various recycled packaging materials from The Body Shop products, which amounts to 280 kg of plastic waste per school.

"We collaborated with The Body Shop under the theme 'Share More Kindness', with the hope that this effort to improve library literacy will also have an impact on environmental preservation," said Nila, adding that TB Pelangi also provides literacy training for Principals, teachers, as well as librarians.

TB Pelangi held a series of training sessions for the Principal, 18 teachers, and librarians at SDN 48 Bonto Kapetta starting from September 26-30, 2022. In addition, TB Pelangi also provides support that includes improving the physical space of the school library, providing quality storybooks for children, as well as mentoring and monitoring the implementation of library programs at SDN 48 Bonto Kapetta.

The presence of this Green Library signifies that TBK Pelangi has built 206 libraries across Indonesia.

Helping to Improve Reading Literacy

Quoting the statistical data of primary schools in 2020-2021 issued by the Ministry of Education, it is known that the condition of libraries in South Sulawesi is more damaged than in good condition.

Out of the 5,681 primary school libraries, both public and private, in South Sulawesi, 3,503 libraries (62%) are in mild to moderate damaged condition.

In addition, literacy as a basic requirement that must be mastered by every elementary school student in Maros Regency and South Sulawesi Province is below the minimum competence.

The 2022 Public Education Report, which is the result of the 2021 National Assessment issued by the Ministry of Education, shows that less than 50% of elementary school students in South Sulsel Province and Maros Regency have reached the minimum competence level for reading literacy.

Efforts to improve reading literacy can be done through good quality facilities and infrastructure.

"This is a form of concern from the Government's partner, in this case, Taman Bacaan Pelangi, to assist the Maros Regency Government in the field of literacy by providing libraries with better conditions. The Maros Regency Government also pays attention to fostering children's love for books through basic and environmental literacy with the concept of Green Library," said the Head of the Maros Regency Education and Culture Office, Husair.