PORTALJABAR, BEKASI REGENCY - Bekasi Regency has the largest number of accredited libraries in West Java. According to a press release from the West Java Provincial Government Public Relations, which references 2025 data from the West Java Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Bekasi Regency has 112 accredited libraries out of a total of 1,129 libraries in West Java.

The Acting Secretary of the Bekasi Regency Archives and Library Service (Disarpus), Agung Mulya, stated that this achievement is the result of the local government's commitment to increasing reading interest and the community's literacy index by strengthening libraries, both in schools and public libraries.

"We are grateful that Bekasi Regency has the largest number of accredited libraries in West Java. This is based on a West Java Public Relations release referring to data from the West Java Provincial Statistics Agency (BPS)," said Agung Mulya, Wednesday (August 5, 2026).

In the list, Bekasi Regency is in first place with 112 accredited libraries, followed by Bandung City with 107 libraries, West Bandung Regency with 105 libraries, Sukabumi Regency with 92 libraries, and Kuningan Regency with 89 libraries.

Furthermore, Bandung Regency has 54 accredited libraries, Sukabumi City 52 libraries, Bogor Regency 51 libraries, Cirebon Regency 44 libraries, and Bogor City 42 accredited libraries.

Agung explained that the accreditation process involves a series of stages, starting with mentoring and verification, and ending with an assessment by a team of assessors from the National Library, along with regional assessors. The Library Service also provides guidance and direct visits to elementary and junior high schools to ensure the libraries meet accreditation standards, both in terms of book collections and supporting facilities.

Some school libraries that have received accreditation include SDN Mangunjaya 01 Tambun Selatan, SDIT Al-Kautsar Cikarang Pusat, SD John Paul School Tarumajaya, SMPN 1 Setu, SMP Penabur Cikarang Utara, and SMP Dian Harapan Cikarang Selatan.

In addition to improving the quality of school libraries, the Bekasi Regency Library and Archives Office (Disarpus) also continues to strengthen regional library services. Currently, Disarpus has a physical collection of 16,570 titles, totaling 51,825 copies, and a digital collection of 2,555 e-book titles, totaling 4,566 copies.

"The collection we provide is very varied to meet the needs of various groups of people, ranging from general works, philosophy, psychology, religion, social sciences, languages, pure sciences, applied sciences, arts, history, geography, to literature such as novels and poetry collections," explained Agung.

The Bekasi Regency Public Library Service's library services are now available at four locations, namely the Regional Library at the Bekasi Regency Government Complex, the Digital Reading Corner (Pocadi) at the Gedung Juang Tambun Selatan Museum, the North Cikarang Library, and the South Cikarang Library.

Agung invited the public to utilize these facilities as a means of increasing knowledge and reading culture.

"We invite all elements of society, especially students, and parents, to actively visit the nearest library. We have prepared comfortable facilities and a comprehensive collection for the people of Bekasi Regency," he concluded.

(Bekasi Regency Communications and Information Service/rka)