Reading Interests of Pegawi Negeri Officers in Indonesian Civil Service in the Philippines

Researcher: TOETTIE SOEMANTRI SUHARYONO

Course: Master of Library Science

School: University of the Philippines

Subject Area: Reading Interests

Year of Graduation: 1994

Research Problem

The reading interests of the Pegawi Negeri officers and staff of the Indonesian Civil Service in the Philippines was studied. It is aimed to: 1. find out what the Pegawi Negeri officers read; 2. identify the subjects and types of materials they read; 3. identify the sources of materials they read; 4. identify the language preference for materials they read; and 5. identify the factors that influence their reading interests.

Methodology

The reading interests of the Pegawi Negeri officers and staff of the Indonesian Civil Service in the Philippines was the subject of this study. These officers and staff are assigned at the Indonesian Embassy in Manila and the Consulate General in Davao City. Sixty out of 120 respondents comprise the respondents of the study.

The descriptive method of study was used with the questionnaire sought to find out the profile of the respondents, their reading interests and their use of the Embassy Library. Interviews were made to clarify and verify data. The questionnaires were distributed to 120 officers and staff assigned in Manila (77) and Davao City (43). Only sixty questionnaires were returned: forty from Manila and 20 from Davao City.

Findings

The study showed that the officers and staff are predominantly male, within the age group of 41-50 and 50 and above and are mostly in administration. Majority are assigned at the Indonesian Embassy in Manila. Almost all the respondents regard reading as very important to them. They read to gain knowledge and obtain specific information that they need in their work. However, those who do not read prefer to watch TV, play golf, or even sleep rather than read. Almost all the respondents read newspaper from the office and they prefer Kompas and Merdeka newspapers in Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Inggris (English Language). A few subscribe to both newspapers and magazines. The subjects of articles in magazines of most interest to the respondents are entertainment and education, followed by sports, home and family, business, economics and politics. Majority of the respondents buy their books while many get them from the Library. For non-fiction books, the respondents prefer those on general knowledge and history, followed by education, religion and hobbies. For fiction books, they like historical fiction, biographical fiction, romances and mysteries. Teachers and parents were found to have influenced the reading of almost all the respondents during their school days. Almost all read books beyond the textbooks. Only a few do not read. The respondents use the Library and Information Center of the Embassy frequently to get information for their work, for their reports and speeches and for their reactions.

Conclusions

The study concludes that the Pegawi Negeri officers and staff are a reading group who regard reading as very important to them. They read to gain knowledge and information that they could use for their work in the Embassy. They buy books and subscribe to magazines and newspapers but majority of them get their newspaper and magazine from the office and the library. Thus, the Embassy and the Library have a strong impact on the reading interests of the respondents. It was also noted that in developing their reading habit at an early age, teachers and parents have a strong influence.

Recommendations

The study recommends that the Embassy and the Library and Information Center initiate programs that would motivate more officers to read and provide more reading materials not only in Bahasa Indonesia but also in the English language and other foreign languages known to respondents that would broaden their views and outlook of the country they are serving, the country to which they are assigned and the world as a whole. The Embassy should also organize intensive courses in the English language or other foreign languages to improve the reading proficiency of the officers and staff. The Indonesian government, through its ministers, should require its officers, who are to be assigned abroad, to make reading a regular part of their job or duties. The acquisition of the published foreign information materials and local reading materials should be addressed to strengthen library collections in the country of assignment which ultimately will encourage these officers to read.