A warm and friendly atmosphere marked the closing of the Gadjah Mada Library and Archives Fair (GMLAF) 2025, held on the rooftop of the Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Library and Archives on Friday (19/9/2025). The event served as a moment of reflection and appreciation for the series of activities successfully organized to celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of the UGM Library and Archives, while motivating staff to continue improving service quality.
In his report, GMLAF 2025 Committee Chair Herman Setyawan explained that the series of events ran from June to September, including a library, archives, and museum exhibition; an archival talk show; a book donation drive; a book review; a database workshop; a Posbindu PTM (Integrated Guidance Post for Non-Communicable Diseases); a blood donation drive; an inter-division table tennis competition; a health lecture; a fun gathering; and an international webinar, all involving broad participation from the academic community and the public.
During the blood donation activity, the UGM Library and Archives collaborated with UGM Academic Hospital (RSA). The number of blood donors from the Library and Archives was the highest among all RSA partner units. As a token of appreciation, RSA UGM presented a goat to the Library and Archives, marking the success of this social program in supporting health initiatives while strengthening collaborative networks.
The closing event also featured the announcement of table tennis competition winners and the presentation of the Employee of the Year and Best Employee awards in several categories. Joko Kristianto was named Employee of the Year 2025. Other awards were given to Sutarman (Best Employee – Librarian/Library Staff), Herman Setyawan (Best Employee – Archivist/Archives Staff), Dhani Setiana (Best Employee – Technician), and Risdianto (Best Employee – Cleaning Staff). The selection was carried out through a voting process involving all staff and management of the UGM Library and Archives, reflecting appreciation for outstanding dedication and performance.
The highlight of the event was the official closing by the Head of the UGM Library and Archives, Arif Surachman, S.I.P., M.B.A. “Thank you for the support and participation of the entire team. We hope GMLAF will continue to grow, foster innovation, and become a space for inspiring collaboration in the future,” he said.
GMLAF 2025 represents UGM’s concrete commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, which promotes the development of information literacy and staff competencies, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through synergy with various external partners.
The closing of this year’s fair reaffirmed that libraries and archives are not merely places to store information but hubs of innovation that continue to evolve with the times. With renewed enthusiasm, the UGM Library and Archives is determined to provide adaptive, collaborative, and user-oriented services for both the university community and the public.
Contributor: Wasilatul Baroroh