Bandung, January 30, 2025 — A student from the Library and Information Science (PSI) Study Program at the Faculty of Communication Sciences (FIKOM), Universitas Padjadjaran (UNPAD), has completed a significant study on the role of information literacy in cultural preservation. The research, titled “Cultural information literacy of the Banyumas migrant community in Bandung in the preservation of Banyumasan arts,” explores how a migrant community successfully maintains and passes on their traditional arts amidst the currents of modernization.
The research was led by Shelpi Nur Awaliyah, a PSI UNPAD student, under the guidance of four lecturers: Ute Lies Siti Khadijah, Evi Nursanti Rukmana, and Rully Khairul Anwar. The background for this study is the vital role of cultural information literacy, especially for diaspora communities, in preventing their traditional arts from disappearing. The objective was to identify the forms of cultural information literacy applied by the Genta Sentramas Community in Bandung to preserve Banyumasan arts.
Using a qualitative method and a purposive sampling technique, the researcher observed and analyzed how this community interacts with cultural information. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and observation, allowing the researcher to gain deep insights into their practices of preserving traditional arts.
The research findings show that the Genta Sentramas Community is highly effective at leveraging information technology, particularly social media and digital platforms, to document and disseminate information. They not only upload videos of Banyumasan dances and music but also organize activities like visits to cultural heritage sites and art workshops. This proves that cultural information literacy is not just about accessing information but also about producing it.
This finding affirms that cultural information literacy serves as a crucial instrument for ensuring the sustainability of Banyumasan traditional arts within the diaspora. It allows the community to not only preserve their cultural identity but also to encourage active participation from the younger generation and the broader public.
This scholarly publication provides valuable insights for other diaspora communities striving to maintain their cultural roots. The research aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 4 (Quality Education), which emphasizes culture-based education, and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), with a focus on preserving cultural heritage in an urban environment.
The article has been published in the Sinta 4 Journal, Informatio. It is hoped that these findings will inspire other communities and cultural institutions to adopt similar strategies in utilizing technology and information literacy to preserve Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage.
The publication results can be accessed via the following link: http://media.unpad.ac.id/files/publikasi/2025/rpm_20250201123954_6626.pdf
Writers: Ridha Amalia, Nadziva Shaqeena, and Muhammad Ihsan Fauzul Haq
