Reinventing Library Association: Indonesia’s experience and perspectives

Established in 1973, The Indonesian Library Association has contributed significantly for the development of professional librarian in Indonesia. It has branches in every province and serving million people every year. With robust network and solid organization, the association has regular annual meeting attended by almost thousands of its loyal members making it one of the largest professional organization in Indonesia. It is the only one formal library association in Indonesia dealing with librarians. Provoked by monetary crisis in Indonesia which melted down the fragile economic foundation and forced the longest served president, the late Soeharto to quit, Indonesia suddenly become a “new state” adopting democratic styled government, more open society And real free market. These unexpected changes have had tremendous impacts on many walks of life including professional institutions. Euphoria that followed reform movement has dispersed power concentration by the establishment of new political parties. Fortyeight new political parties joined eligibly the first democratic general election in 1999. Reform spirits also intruded to The Indonesian Library Association (ILA)locally known as Ikatan Pustakawan Indonesia (IPI). It faced highly demanding members who wanted some substantial changes in the organization structure and custodians and the implementation of power sharing favoring the association branches and chapters in the provinces and districts. Up to the present the top position of the association traditionally goes to the head of National Library. With his or her beauracratic style in leadership, some consider not suitable anymore for the new paradigm of modern and democratic organization.To compound the problems, some librarians have established four forums and one scholars association namely Public Library Forum, University Library Forum (FPPTI), School Library Forum (APISI/FPS), Special Library Forum (FPK) and The Association of Indonesian Library and Information Scholars (ISIIPI). They are autonomous semi formal entity. Judging this unfavorable condition, the board and management of ILA has taken some bold measurements by inviting some new faces, young librarians with strong commitment and high competency to participate actively and directly in decision making process in the association board meeting and put them in strategic position in the organizational structure. Moreover, the association has no objection in the implementation of power sharing making its branches and chapters more autonomous and creative as well. It also simplified its organizational structure to accommodate some changes in modern setting and globalization era. By reinventing its management style and streaming line the organization,the Association has managed to satisfy the majority of its members and attracting more new members especially the young professionallibrarians