The commitment and dedication of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) librarians and archivists have once again earned national recognition. Six staff members from the UGM Library and Archives received the Satyalancana Karya Satya award from the President of the Republic of Indonesia on Thursday (October 10, 2025). The award honors civil servants (ASN) who have demonstrated loyalty, devotion, and exceptional performance in their service to education and public welfare.
Two staff members received the 30-year service award: Haryanta, S.I.P. and Ismulyana, S.I.P., M.A., both of whom have dedicated much of their careers to advancing information services and knowledge management at UGM. Meanwhile, the 20-year award was presented to Ully Isnaeni Effendi, S.E., M.Sc., Dr. Herman Setyawan, S.Pd., M.Sc., Fitria Agustina, S.I.P., M.Sc., Dewi Nurhastuti, S.Sos., and Ahmad Fakih Usman, S.S.
Head of the UGM Library and Archives, Arif Surachman, S.I.P., M.B.A., expressed his pride in the achievement. “This award is not only an acknowledgment of individual dedication but also a recognition of the librarians’ and archivists’ significant contributions in supporting UGM’s academic ecosystem. They have upheld the spirit of professional and ethical public service,” he said.
One of the 30-year awardees, Haryanta, S.I.P., expressed his gratitude. “Three decades is not a short journey. I’m proud to have contributed to the UGM Library and Archives’ transformation—from conventional services to inclusive, user-oriented digital services,” he reflected.
Similarly, Dewi Nurhastuti, S.Sos., a 20-year award recipient, viewed the recognition as motivation to keep innovating. “Being a librarian is not just about maintaining collections—it’s about ensuring that knowledge remains alive and accessible to everyone. It’s a meaningful form of service,” she said.
The Satyalancana Karya Satya award carries deep significance, particularly in the context of higher education governance. Civil servants who receive the award are recognized for upholding strong values of work ethics, professionalism, and accountability in serving the public and the academic community.
The award also embodies the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 4 (Quality Education) is reflected through the recipients’ dedication to providing literacy and archival services that promote lifelong learning. Meanwhile, SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) is realized through their commitment to professionalism, accountability, and transparent academic governance.
More than a symbolic recognition, this achievement serves as an inspiration for younger generations of librarians and archivists at UGM to continue innovating and contributing to national literacy advancement.
“We hope this spirit of service becomes a role model—that working in libraries and archives is not merely about managing books and documents, but about preserving the nation’s collective memory,” concluded Arif.
With unwavering dedication, the UGM Library and Archives continue to demonstrate that behind every page of knowledge lies the hard work, integrity, and devotion of literacy professionals committed to enlightening the nation.
Contributor: Wasilatul Baroroh