I was quite disappointed when the holiday is over, meaning that I couldn't continue my mini program on how to stay sane and active as a Pengacara (pengangguran banyak acara 😂)—by taking KRL to Jakarta and meeting my late coworkers during break and taking home novels from Cikini Library. Now that I'm back to town, I've been curious to visit the new Independent Library at Dipati Ukur, The Room 19.

Inspired by the book The Room 19 (just like me who get inspired to write this post), this space was made for ones who want to take a break from their hustling bustling life. Since there is limited space, the guests should book and pay the fee in advance, Rp 25.000 for student, Rp 35.000 for general visitor and get a free flow hot tea in return. Also, the visit duration is limited too.

It is required to pay Rp 20.000 to borrow an English translation book in a week, and Rp 10.000 for an Indonesian book. Or I can read it for free during the visit. If I want to return the book, I have to pay a visit for Rp 25.000 again, even though I don't want to spend some time in there.

Let me do the math: If I want to borrow a single translation book for a week, I have to pay: Rp 25.000 for the initial visit, Rp 20.000 for the book itself, and additional Rp 25.000 to return the book. In total, I paid Rp 70.000 for a single book.

Was it worth the price?

As for me, It is still worth the price compared to buy the book itself and to make room for it afterwards—IF, and only if, I did not have any due reports or upcoming quiz so I could finish the book 😂

Nonetheless, it was a comfortable place to be alone and to stay focus to finish tasks. I know this is somehow biased opinion, but I could say that the fiction book collection is quite up to date—some of the covers are mostly seen on my Instagram explores, and already on my book lists!😆 Like Before The Coffee Gets Cold, and Mieko Kawakami's books. I got the chance to bring home All The Lovers In The Night, and the next list is Heaven *excited* I'll save the currently hype Breasts and Eggs, borrowed at HB Jassin Collection, for the next holiday.

I really wish The Room 19 could grow big, extend the space along with their collections!

I swear I'm gonna come up with a better picture next time but I am super excited to tell this right here with my broken english since .. I finally visited Perpustakaan Umum Provinsi DKI Jakarta Cikini, and it was happened three times last week! YAY 💛

At first I registered at perpustakaan.jakarta.go.id, got my account verified by uploading ID Card, weeks before I actually fill out reservation form. I planned to make a visit at Tuesday but the day before that, one of my colleagues brought durians and had a durian party at frickin 10 A.M.! 😵 Can you imagine how the entire room smelled like? No wonder why Japanese said it smells 靴下の味.

Wait, what durian has to do with library visit?

For being the one and only person who can’t stand the smell let alone eat durian, I moved to musholla to keep my sanity. But two hours later, when the place packed with people and my legs began to hurt for sitting on the floor for a long time, I came back to the room only to know that the smell seemed stayed since people threw the seeds in the trash bin near my desk. So I got the idea to move to Perpustakaan Cikini for it is only few minutes walk from my workplace. I quickly made a reservation, packed my laptop and rushed to go there by myself.

For as long as I remember, I never had been to public library. I used to visit library back in college only because it was quiet and free—I did not have to spend money to buy drinks even though the wifi sucks. And sometimes I could see some international relation students practicing roleplay on the opposite corner. Okay enough for the intro.

Once I arrived, I scanned my reservation script in QR to enter, and then I walked into the baggage deposit to change my bag to the clear one that the library provides, and get the locker tag in exchange. The ID and password wifi are written on the back of the tag. Right in front of the baggage deposit, there is a table with monitor screen and a shelf beside it, for visitor who wants to return the book or borrow book online through the account.

You must get your account verified first to borrow books. It is allowed to borrow max 2 books per person in 14 calendar days. Yet if you could not finished it, (the staff said) you can extend it max on Day 13 through the website.

Once you borrow books through online, make sure you wait the status turn from 'menunggu konfirmasi' until 'siap diambil'. If not, you'll end up like me who had to come back again the next day because the book wasn't ready to be picked up yet and it was already past lunch time. If I cancelled the booking, my account would get suspended for two days 😅

Like any library, no food and drinks are allowed and there’s no tenant that sells drink inside (I tell this here because I overheard some visitors asking the security the same question)

Even though the TIM XXI, warung ikan bakar, and my jogging track there will be forever missed, I would not complain anymore as they were all replaced with this beautiful library 😀