Conducted during the first semester of the 2025/2026 academic year, the study examines how digital-based library management helps users not only access information but also evaluate and use it more effectively. This issue has become increasingly urgent as digital information grows rapidly, while the ability to distinguish reliable sources remains uneven.
Responding to the Digital Information Challenge
In today’s digital environment, information is abundant but not always accurate. Social media and informal online platforms have become primary information sources for many people, often replacing institutional references such as libraries. This shift places new demands on educational institutions, especially school libraries, to redefine their role.
The Primabaca Library operates under the Prima Swarga Bara Education Foundation (YPPSB), an education foundation established in 1991 to serve the children of employees of PT Kaltim Prima Coal. Located in North Sangatta, East Kutai Regency, the library supports one kindergarten, three elementary schools, one junior high school, and one senior high school. It also opens its services to the surrounding community.
Traditionally focused on printed collections, the library began expanding its digital services after the Covid-19 pandemic. These changes included the introduction of an automated library system (SLiMS), the development of the YPPSB Smart Library application, and the provision of more than 1,300 digital book titles. The goal was clear: make learning resources more accessible, flexible, and relevant to digital-era users.
How the Study Was Conducted
Rather than relying on surveys or statistical modeling alone, the research used a qualitative case study approach. Bashori and his colleagues gathered data through in-depth interviews, direct observations, and document analysis. Participants included library supervisors, librarians, school principals, teachers, students, parents, and representatives of the foundation.
The analysis focused on how the library applied four core management functions—planning, organizing, implementation, and control in a digital context. This framework allowed the researchers to examine not just what technologies were used, but how decisions were made, programs were run, and outcomes were evaluated.
Key Findings: What Works and What Doesn’t
The study found that digital-based management at the Primabaca Library has been implemented in a structured and consistent way. Several key findings stand out:
- Strategic and inclusive planning. Digital library development is aligned with the foundation’s educational vision and involves multiple stakeholders, including teachers and school leaders. Literacy programs are designed to support classroom learning rather than operate in isolation.
- Strong cross-unit collaboration. Library staff work closely with IT teams, research units, and multimedia staff. This collaboration ensures that technology, content, and learning needs are integrated into a single service ecosystem.
- Activity-based literacy programs. Beyond providing e-books and online catalogs, the library organizes digital literacy training, educational video workshops, and creative programs using artificial intelligence, such as animated storytelling.
- Continuous evaluation. Library performance is monitored through monthly reports, user feedback, and system data. Technical issues like internet stability and server capacity are reviewed alongside user competence and participation.
However, the research also highlights a critical gap. Physical visits to the library remain high reaching more than 12,000 visits in a single month while digital library usage is still relatively low, averaging only a few dozen active users per month. This contrast suggests that providing digital infrastructure alone is not enough to change user behavior.
Moving Beyond Access to True Information Literacy
According to Sugeng Bashori, the main challenge lies in human readiness rather than technology. “Digital literacy is not just about opening an app or downloading a book,” he explains. “It is about understanding, evaluating, and even producing information responsibly.”
To address this, the Primabaca Library adopted a “phygital” approach, combining physical and digital services. Programs such as AI-assisted animated story creation and digital content workshops aim to move users from basic access skills to higher-level competencies, including creativity and critical thinking.
Teachers play a key role in this process. By integrating digital library resources into assignments, they help students learn how to select credible references and properly cite sources. Librarians, meanwhile, have evolved into what the study calls “Librarians 2.0” facilitators, trainers, and content creators who actively guide users through the digital information landscape.
Why This Research Matters
The study offers practical insights for schools, education foundations, and policymakers facing similar challenges. It shows that digital library success depends on balanced investment: technology must be accompanied by capacity building, collaboration, and program innovation.
For education policymakers, the findings underline the importance of viewing libraries as strategic partners in digital literacy development, not merely as support units. For schools, the Primabaca experience demonstrates that literacy programs are most effective when they are embedded in daily learning activities.
More broadly, the research suggests that school libraries can play a vital role in preparing students for the demands of the 21st century where the ability to critically engage with information is just as important as access to it.
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