Why Sukanto Tanoto Thinks Library is Management Important

A good school must have a good library and encourage the students to read more. SukantoTanoto is the owner of RGE Group and Tanoto Foundation that has built many schools and libraries in Indonesia, China and Tibet. The libraries came with well-stocked book supplies and additional media, to make sure that the students can learn like they who study at schools with more budgets. However, having only the library is not enough; teachers at such schools must know how to manage them.

Library Management and Activity Training

Teachers who know good library management can take care of the facility better, and use it to help students achieving learning goals better. Tanoto Foundation has provided several library management trainings for teachers, making sure that the libraries are well-used and actually beneficial. The library management and activity training involve:

·         Learning how to take care of library and its facilities, to ensure long usage period.

·         Learning how to use the books as parts of the class teaching, to broaden the students’ knowledge and insight, not just from the mandatory textbooks.

·         Learning how to create class activities that center around the library, such as storytelling, role playing, and fun discussion, so the teachers and students can become active library users, not just visiting it once awhile.

·         Learning how to use different library facilities such as role playing tools, posters, and educational toys or dolls to increase attention level and encourage creative thinking.

However, simply training the teachers is not enough; Tanoto Foundation also keeps updating the condition and supplies of the existing libraries, making sure that the teachers can be more active in their teaching process.

Library Updating and Supplying

Tanoto Foundation did not stop after building libraries; the foundation also strives to make sure that the libraries are well-stocked and updated with the most current ideal-for-school books beside textbooks. Therefore, the foundation set up a funding program to encourage donation to buy more books for the existing and soon-to-be-built libraries. The funding will also be used to buy other facilities and media that can be placed in the libraries, such as posters, educational games, role playing dolls, drawing books and tools, and even audiovisual educational tool.

A good library is the source of learning for many students; Sukanto Tanoto, an avid reader himself, wants to make sure that school students can learn optimally from their school facilities, even the ones located in underprivileged areas.