From a Book Lovers Club, Literary Activity Flourishes at SMPN 12 Semarang

KOMPAS.com - Amid growing concerns about the decline in reading interest among young people, a glimmer of hope shines from the southern part of Semarang City in Central Java.

Literacy awareness is notably emerging at SMP Negeri 12 Semarang.

Within the school's lush and cool environment, a book club has been established to nurture the literary interests of its student members.

Besides being regular visitors to the school library located in Srondol Wetan Village, Banyumanik District, the club members actively organize discussion activities.

Speaking to the Jagat Literasi Kompas.com team, SMPN 12 Semarang Principal Rini Rusmiasih said the initiative to form the book club began around 2024.

At that time, she invited several students who frequently borrowed books from the library to join a book club meeting regularly held at Taman Indonesia Kaya in Semarang City.

"Eventually, without me taking them, they came by themselves. So they kept visiting there," Rini told Kompas.com on Friday (18/9/2026).

Most participants in the book club at Taman Indonesia Kaya are university students. Unexpectedly, one of them was an alumnus of SMPN 12 Semarang.

Rini then invited this alumnus as a speaker to share knowledge regarding book club activities with their alma mater.

KOMPAS.COM/JAWAHIR GUSTAV RIZAL The library at SMPN 12 Semarang visited by the Jagat Literasi Kompas.com team on Friday (18/9/2026)On another note, increasing students' desire or interest in reading books obviously cannot be achieved solely by forming a book club.

Indonesian language teacher Ani Handayani explained that each SMPN 12 Semarang student is targeted to complete reading at least 18 books by graduation.

However, this goal is designed to be achieved gradually, encouraging students to develop their reading interest step by step.

"Not just assigning tasks, but we also provide feedback. For example, they write summaries of the books they have read," Ani said.

"So by grade 8, they already know how to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the book," she added.

KOMPAS.COM/JAWAHIR GUSTAV RIZAL The Jagat Literasi team with SMPN 12 Semarang students on Friday (18/9/2026)The Jagat Literasi activity: Ekspedisi Kata ke Nyata at SMPN 12 Semarang was made possible thanks to support from MR. DIY and Gramedia.