Big changes often begin with small steps. That’s exactly what’s happening at SD Negeri 2 Mola Utara.

On April 14, 2025, the school signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Wakatobi District Education Office to establish a child-friendly library. Two days earlier, on April 12, teachers, the principal, parent representatives, the school committee, and education office staff had gathered for a socialization event. The atmosphere was warm and full of enthusiasm—everyone agreed on the importance of transforming the school library into a comfortable, enjoyable space that encourages children to read.

MoU signing with the Department of Education of Wakatobi district

What made this journey even more special was the support from J&T Express as the main donor. This partnership paved the way for SDN 2 Mola Utara to have a library that is not only neat and well-organized but truly child-friendly, complete with child-accessible bookshelves and a diverse collection of books.

The next step was training. From May 19 to 23, 2025, teachers, the librarian, and the principal participated in a child-friendly library management training held by the Taman Bacaan Pelangi team. Over five intensive days, they learned a range of topics—from roles and responsibilities in library management, how to organize borrowing records and create a book catalog, to rearranging library furniture and understanding four types of reading activities: read-aloud, shared reading, paired reading, and independent reading.

Library routine demonstration by one of the teachers during Library Management Training at SDN 2 Mola Utara

The training was not just theoretical. Participants practiced what they learned through simulations of borrowing and returning books, learning how to turn pages gently, and trying out shared reading activities with students. Even though the training took place after sixth-grade exams and continued into the afternoon, the teachers’ enthusiasm never waned.

Ms. Novi, one of the participating teachers, shared,
“Thanks to this training, I’ve learned how to take care of books properly. It was also really fun!”

The principal, Ms. Nur Idarumawati, added,
“The materials were very useful. We learned about our responsibilities in managing the library, the role of student volunteers, and how to organize a good reading space.”

All teachers of SDN 2 Mola Utara and TBP team

 

The journey of SDN 2 Mola Utara is a shining example of how collaboration between schools, communities, the government, and the private sector can bring real change. Together, they have opened a new window of opportunity for the future of children—through a library that has become more vibrant and welcoming for all.