An evaluative study on the role of primary school library services in promoting student literacy
Abstract
Background: School libraries are often underutilised as centres of learning and literacy development, despite their great potential to support the educational process. The gap between the ideal function of libraries and the actual practice of library services in the field necessitates an evaluation that focuses on users’ real experiences
Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the role of libraries in increasing students’ interest in literacy at Labschool Elementary School UPI Bandung and to identify obstacles in the implementation of existing literacy programs.
Methods: This research used field research with an evaluative approach using a goal-free evaluation model. The research subjects included 20 fourth-grade students as survey respondents and library managers as interview informants. Data collection techniques included a three-level Likert-scale survey to measure students’ literacy interest and semi-structured interviews to explore the condition of library services. Data analysis was conducted descriptively to interpret student responses and field findings.
Results: The results showed that most students responded neutrally to the school-organised literacy activities.
Conclusion: The literacy programs have not been fully able to foster students’ interest in reading optimally. Library services are still dominated by the function of providing Reading materials without the development of innovative and participatory literacy programs.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Abbas, A. (2023). Utilization of the library as a learning resource for students of the department of Islamic religious education. Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam Indonesia (JPAII), 4(1), 9–12. https://doi.org/10.37251/jpaii.v4i1.646
Arisandi, M. H., Sa’adah, E. L., & Rahayu, A. S. (2024). The role of libraries in increasing students’ interest in reading. Regulate: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan, Hukum Dan Bisnis, 1(2), 126–137. https://doi.org/10.61166/REGULATE.V1I2.25
Buchanan, S., Harlan, M., Bruce, C., & Edwards, S. (2016). Inquiry based learning models, information literacy, and student engagement: A literature review. School Libraries Worldwide, 22(2), 23–39. https://doi.org/10.29173/slw6914
Cooke, N. A., Sweeney, M. E., & Noble, S. U. (2016). Social justice as topic and tool: An attempt to transform an LIS curriculum and culture. The Library Quarterly, 86(1), 107–124. https://doi.org/10.1086/684147
Crump, L. (2020). Conducting field research effectively. American Behavioral Scientist, 64(2), 198–219. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764219859624
Fitrianti, L. (2024). Peran pustakawan sekolah dalam memberdayakan perpustakaan sebagai sumber belajar bagi peserta didik. Jurnal Islamika, 7(02), 91–98. https://doi.org/10.37859/jsi.v7i02.8257
Gneezy, A. (2017). Field experimentation in marketing research. Journal of Marketing Research, 54(1), 140–143. https://doi.org/10.1509/JMR.16.0225
Gómez-Valverde, L. Y., & Calderón Jiménez, A. (2024). Learning commons y bibliotecas universitarias: Espacios para el aprendizaje en el sistema de Bibliotecas del Tecnológico de Costa Rica. Bibliotecas, 42(2), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.15359/42-2.1
Harvey, W. S., & Spee, A. P. (2024). Walking the tightrope of academic and practitioner expectations in field research. Management Learning, 55(5), 769–789. https://doi.org/10.1177/13505076231213176
Huda, I. C. (2020). Peranan perpustakaan sekolah terhadap hasil belajar siswa sekolah dasar. Edukatif: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan, 2(1), 38–48. https://doi.org/10.31004/EDUKATIF.V2I1.86
Hughes, H., Bozorgian, H., & Allen, C. (2014). School libraries, teacher-librarians and student outcomes: Presenting and using the evidence. School Libraries Worldwide, 29–50. https://doi.org/10.29173/slw6869
Inawati, I. (2022). Peran perpustakaan sekolah dalam menciptakan budaya literasi siswa pada jenjang pendidikan menengah. Literatify : Trends in Library Developments, 3(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.24252/LITERATIFY.V3I1.24645
Jaeger, P. T., Gorham, U., Bertot, J. C., & Sarin, L. C. (2014). Public libraries, public policies, and political processes. Rowman & Littlefield. https://doi.org/10.5771/9781442233478
Jbeen, A., Hussain Shah, S., Rahim, R., & Ahmad, S. (2025). Bridging the technological gap: A competency assessment of academic librarians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The Critical Review of Social Sciences Studies, 3(2), 2411–2427. https://doi.org/10.59075/aszse935
Khurshid, Z. (2013). Non-librarians as managers. IFLA Journal, 39(3), 214–220. https://doi.org/10.1177/0340035213497675
Mahendra, Y., Suprapto, I., & Apriza, B. (2024). The role of school libraries in enhancing the interest and initial reading abilities of elementary school students. West Science Interdisciplinary Studies, 2(03), 495–501. https://doi.org/10.58812/WSIS.V2I03.693
Mathar, T., & Irawati. (2022). Tantangan perpustakaan sekolah dalam menerapkan integrated library system. Literatify : Trends in Library Developments, 3(2), 112–121. https://doi.org/10.24252/literatify.v3i2.31964
McCunn, L. J. (2023). Teachers’ collaborations in a secondary school learning commons: Designing for success. Journal of Library Administration, 63(7), 898–927. https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2023.2262366
Merga, M. K. (2019). How do librarians in schools support struggling readers? English in Education, 53(2), 145–160. https://doi.org/10.1080/04250494.2018.1558030
Munawaroh, F. (2024). Peran perpustakaan sekolah dalam meningkatkan minat membaca siswa. Jurnal Multidisiplin Ilmu Akademik, 1(4), 8–17. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61722/jmia.v1i4.1811
Ningsih, E. P. (2024). Peran perpustakaan dalam mendukung literasi masyarakat. Bibliogia, 1(1), 17–21. https://doi.org/10.62872/E9E6MS40
Nugroho, C. D. A., & Mawardi, M. (2024). Evaluasi program literasi membaca sekolah dasar di SD Negeri 1 Kedungjati menggunakan model goal free evaluation. Nusantara: Jurnal Pendidikan Indonesia, 4(3), 635–644. https://doi.org/10.14421/NJPI.2024.V4I3-2
Nurmalina, N. (2021). Analisis kebutuhan tenaga perpustakaan di perpustakaan UIN Raden Fatah Palembang. THE LIGHT: Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 1(2), 46–57. https://doi.org/10.20414/light.v1i2.4359
Rafiq, M., Batool, S. H., Ali, A. F., & Ullah, M. (2021). University libraries response to COVID-19 pandemic: A developing country perspective. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 47(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ACALIB.2020.102280
Safitri, S., & Ramadan, Z. H. (2022). Implementasi literasi budaya dan kewargaan di sekolah dasar. Mimbar Ilmu, 27(1), 109–116. https://doi.org/10.23887/MI.V27I1.45034
Sahabi, M. K., & Otobo, E. E. (2022). Academic library and challenges of service delivery in Nigerian Universities in the Digital Era. Information Impact: Journal of Information and Knowledge Management, 12(2), 51–61. https://doi.org/10.4314/iijikm.v12i2.4
Sukiasyan, E. R. (2020). The Library-Bibliographical Classification (LBC): current status and prospects. Scientific and Technical Libraries, 1, 60–75. https://doi.org/10.33186/1027-3689-2020-1-60-75
Wang, A., Chu, R., & Xu, M. (2016). Establishing learning commons in university libraries. https://doi.org/10.2991/ICEMCT-16.2016.234
Youker, B. W. (2019). What, how, and why? A comparative analysis of 12 goal-free evaluations. Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation, 15(33), 16–29. https://doi.org/10.56645/jmde.v15i33.444
Yunus, W., Ijlal, S. F., & Heni, H. (2024). Perpustakaan sekolah dan strategi penguatan literasi informasi para siswa. Literasi: Jurnal Bahasa Dan Sastra Indonesia Serta Pembelajarannya, 8(1), 136–151. https://doi.org/10.25157/literasi.v8i1.13143
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24198/inf.v6i1.63699
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2026 Shafa Nurul Azmi Putrisolichat, Angga Hadiapurwa, Yayu Wulandari

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Informatio Indexed by:
Editorial Office :
Library and Information Science Study Program, Building 3 Floor 2, Faculty of Communication Science, Universitas Padjadjaran
Jl. Raya Bandung Sumedang Km. 21 Jatinangor, Sumedang 45363
Principal Contact :
Phone : 08122184219
Email : rully.khairul@unpad.ac.id
,




2.png)


