Indonesia is in need of 439,680 librarians for all types of libraries, including public, special, public and private schools, and university libraries, according to Muhammad Syarif Bando, head of the National Library. He noted that the need for librarians is crucial to optimise the function of libraries and improve community literacy. Perpusnas issued a recommendation regarding the formation of functional librarian positions in 2022 to 31 agencies, with the total need for functional librarians at 4,344. Bando added that the implementation of Inpassing in the 2017-2021 period has boosted the number of functional librarians in Indonesia. Out of a total of 13,983 assessed libraries, the number of libraries accredited with A, B, and C predicates has reached 9,363, he noted. Deputy head of Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR) Agustina Wilujeng said that Perpusnas needs to optimise strategic steps, including issuing a regulation that makes the recruitment of librarians for functional positions convenient. A member of Commission X of the DPR Vanda Sarundajang noted that on average, librarians are currently aged over 50, and thus, many of them will enter retirement soon.
