National Library, FPDI, and UMY Enhance Information Culture in AI Era

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the ways in which society acquires, manages, produces, and utilizes information. Amidst these changes, strengthening information culture is considered a crucial foundation for enabling society to use technology critically, ethically, and responsibly.

To address these challenges, the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia in collaboration with the Indonesian Digital Library Forum (FPDI), a professional organization serving as a hub for collaboration, development, and knowledge exchange in the field of digital libraries in Indonesia, and Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) as the host, will organize the 17th Indonesian Digital Library Conference (KPDI).

The event will take place from August 4 to 6, 2026, in Bantul, Special Region of Yogyakarta. The conference will center on the theme "Awareness, Behavior, Interaction, and Information Culture in the Era of Artificial Intelligence."

This is reflected in the 2025 Indonesian Digital Society Index (IMDI) score of 44.53, underscoring the need to continuously strengthen digital literacy and information culture.

Within the framework of the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), digital transformation is also a national development priority, encompassing the strengthening of the digital ecosystem, the development of digital talent, and the implementation of ethical and inclusive artificial intelligence governance.

Principal Secretary of the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia and Chairperson of the Indonesian Digital Library Forum (FPDI) for the 2024–2028 term, Joko Santoso, affirmed Indonesian National Library role have transform not only providing books, but also to prepare good quality human resources through digital literacy.

"This is why, we establish digital forum along with universities and libraries in Indonesia. We are working together to develop digital information so it can be acces by the people. Libraries must be capable of serving as learning spaces that foster public awareness, cultivate healthy literacy habits, and strengthen knowledge-based interactions, while simultaneously nurturing an information culture that is critical, ethical, and responsible," he said during the media briefing for the 17th Indonesia Digital Conference on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

He explained that technology yields benefits only when supported by a public capable of accessing, evaluating, verifying, and effectively utilizing information. Therefore, libraries must continue to be developed as centers for lifelong learning, collaboration spaces, innovation hubs, and digital literacy nodes capable of strengthening the nation's competitiveness in the knowledge-based economy.

The 17th KPDI aims to attract approximately 400 participants from diverse sectors, including government, academia, librarians, library managers, researchers, students, literacy advocates, IT practitioners, publishers, authors, community groups, and the business sector. As of July 1, 2026, 252 participants had already registered, reflecting high enthusiasm for this year's conference.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian Digital Library Forum, Ida Fajar Priyanto, noted that the current development of artificial intelligence (AI) is reminiscent of the internet euphoria of the 1990s. He observed that, at that time, people embraced the internet and accessed various websites, including the digital collections provided by libraries.

Through the hosting of the 17th KPDI, the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia—together with the Indonesian Digital Library Forum and Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta as the host—hopes this conference will serve as a catalyst to strengthen national collaboration, expand knowledge networks, generate policy recommendations, and foster library service innovations that are adaptive to technological advancements and the needs of the Indonesian people.

Information regarding registration, the event schedule, fees, and the 17th KPDI program lineup can be accessed at https://kpdi17.umy.ac.id. Updates are also available via the official Instagram accounts @perpusnas.go.id and @pusdatin_perpusnas. For further information, the public may contact the organizing committee via WhatsApp at 0858-4288-5954 or by email at kpdi17@umy.ac.id.