The Impact of the Social Inclusion Program on Community Empowerment: a Case Study at Dinas Perpustakaan dan Kearsipan Kabupaten Pidie

Abstrak

This study aims to analyze the implementation of the social inclusion program Dinas Perpustakaan dan Kearsipan Kabupaten Pidie within the framework of the Head of the National Library Regulation Number 3 of 2023. The social inclusion program is seen as a strategy for transforming libraries into community empowerment centers through skills training, digital literacy, and local potential development. This study employed a qualitative approach to gain an in-depth understanding of the implementation of the social inclusion program. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with two librarians as program implementers and four library users representing different program activities. In addition, participatory observation and document analysis were conducted to obtain comprehensive information regarding the implementation process and participants’ experiences. To support and strengthen the qualitative findings, closed-ended questionnaires were distributed to 30 community members participating in the program. The results of the study indicate that the program implementation has been effective and in accordance with national standards, with a significant impact on improving skills, self-confidence, and economic independence of the community. Regression tests show that the program contributed 41% to community empowerment. This finding is in line with the theory of social inclusion and empowerment which emphasizes active, participatory involvement, and is based on local needs. Thus, the library is not only a place of information, but also an agent of adaptive and sustainable social change.