Kuala Lumpur, May 15, 2025 – The Congress of Southeast Asian Librarians (CONSAL) in Malaysia successfully held the ASEAN Best Librarian Awards, which took place from May 9 to 15, 2025. In this prestigious event, Indonesia was represented by Prof. Dr. Agus Rusmana, M.A., who was trusted to be one of the main judges. His presence affirmed Indonesia’s important role in advancing the world of librarianship in the Southeast Asian region.
The event was organized with the primary goal of recognizing and selecting the best librarians from across Southeast Asia. The rigorous selection process was designed to identify professionals who have shown outstanding dedication, innovation, and contributions in their field. The competition was divided into two main categories: Outstanding Librarian (for experienced senior librarians) and Young Librarian (for young librarians).
For the Outstanding Librarian category, six countries sent their representatives: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Meanwhile, the Young Librarian category was followed by six countries: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Candidates for the best librarian from each country presented their portfolios and best achievements for evaluation.
The judging process was carried out by four judges representing four countries: Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand. Participants were required to submit a portfolio containing their track record and various professional achievements. After all the documents were collected, the four judges independently conducted their evaluations. The scores from each judge were then combined to determine the winners.
After a comprehensive evaluation process, the winners were announced at the culminating event in Malaysia. For the Outstanding Librarian category, Ms. Chin Loy Jyoon from Malaysia won the gold medal, Dra. Woro Titi Haryanti, M.A. from Indonesia won the silver, and Elvira B. Lapuz from the Philippines won the bronze. The Young Librarian award was won by Dr. Mayasara Abdul Majid from Malaysia.
This award ceremony is not just a competition but also a platform to strengthen collaboration among librarians in Southeast Asia. The success of the librarians who received awards, including Dra. Woro Titi Haryanti, M.A., shows the quality and professionalism of Indonesian librarians, which are recognized at the regional level. It is hoped that this achievement can motivate other librarians to continue to innovate and contribute to building literacy and knowledge in society.
