Sailing for Literacy: A Cost-Effective Padewakang-Based Floating Library Model for Coastal Communities in Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesia, as the world's largest archipelagic nation with over 13,000 islands, continues to face structural challenges in ensuring equitable access to literacy for coastal communities, particularly those on remote and outermost islands. Previous floating library initiatives led by the National Library of Indonesia since 2010 have encountered limitations, including high operational costs, limited adaptability to shallow waters, and limited-service coverage. This study aims to examine alternative models and the economic costs of disseminating literacy based on coastal communities using traditional Padewakang boats within the Armada Pustaka Mandar program. This study focuses on the coastal areas of the islands of Eastern Indonesia during the period 2010-2024. It uses a qualitative approach and various documentary data in the form of primary archives and secondary sources for this floating library service. The findings indicate that the literacy model disseminated using the Padewakang boat has proven effective in terms of service reach and operational efficiency, both for the boat and the literacy activists and human resources involved. Economically, compared to a typical modern boat, the Padewakang boat only incurs 40-50% less operational costs, with a weekly service costing approximately 3 to 4 million rupiah. The most important aspect of utilizing the Padewakang boat as the Mandar Library Fleet is its accessibility, allowing it to reach various shallow and remote islands. These findings also demonstrate that integrating traditional maritime technology based on local knowledge with a community approach can be a solution to address literacy issues in the islands of eastern Indonesia and is potentially replicable elsewhere.