Evaluation of the Role of Society-Based Library in Empowering Surabaya City People

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the role of society-based library or Taman Bacaan Masyarakat (TBM) in empowering Surabaya City people. Society-based library will be a place of Surabayans’ live-long learning according to the Law on Even Distribution of and Rights to Education. This research adopts a quantitative approach with qualitative data analysis. The sample of the research is fourteen TBMs that have an empowerment program or is near to a small and medium enterprise. Findings of the research include: (1) that TBM role in community empowerment is beginning to be noticeable in their empowerment programs such as trainings for local community, (2) that empowerment programs at TBM are conducted informally and intermittently, such as trainings of producing aromatherapy candles, beads, flannelette, and waste recycling, and (3) the TBM are constrained by shortage of collection and funding for programs. The research recommends that: community empowerment programs should be increased through TBM programs; TBM personnels should be encouraged to innovate; and collection development should be tailored with local needs.