A warm spirit of literacy filled the lobby of the UGM Library and Archives on Wednesday–Thursday, February 11–12, 2026. Through the Rotate Your Book program, members of the UGM academic community were invited to exchange their own readable books for a selection of titles provided by the library.
This event, which took place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., was a collaboration between the Yogyakarta City Library and Archives Office and the UGM Library and Archives. A total of 200 books were provided free of charge for exchange. The list of available collections can be accessed via the link s.id/RYB_UGM.
On the first day of the event, the atmosphere was bustling. In fact, some visitors had already lined up before the event officially began. This enthusiasm shows how much the UGM community is into book sharing and reading.
The way it works is pretty simple. Visitors are asked to bring in books in good condition and worth reading, and the library staff checks them out. Once they pass inspection, participants can pick the books they want to swap and fill out the Google form that the organizers have set up.
Wahyu Supriyanto, S.E., M.Si., Head of the Library Division, stated that the program reflects a collaborative commitment to fostering a culture of literacy. “Through this initiative, the public can share books they have already read and exchange them for new and useful reading materials, thereby expanding access to literacy. We also extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Yogyakarta City Library and Archives Office for their outstanding support and collaboration in making this program a success,” he said.
One of the visitors, Radeya, considered this activity useful and interesting. He brought two books to exchange and hoped the program would continue. “This program deserves to be continued, and perhaps the books could be more varied, and the promotion could be intensified,” He said.
Another visitor, Rayesa, also expressed his gratitude for being able to participate in the event. “I am excited because I can exchange my collection, and the library also has rare collections, resulting in a quality exchange. I am grateful to the Jogja Library and the UGM Library,” said Rayesa. He also appreciated the diversity of references available, including collections from foreign publishers and universities such as Harvard University and the University of Oxford. According to him, activities like this should be held more often so that UGM students can access higher-quality reading material.
More than just a book exchange initiative, Rotate Your Book is part of the UGM Library and Archives’ contribution to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The program aligns with SDG 4 on Quality Education by expanding access to reading materials and strengthening a culture of literacy. From a sustainability perspective, it also supports SDG 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production by encouraging the continued reuse of books. Meanwhile, the cross-institutional collaboration established through this initiative reflects the implementation of SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals.
Through Rotate Your Book, a book does not stop with just one reader. The book continues to circulate, the story lives on, and knowledge expands. This program is expected to be a concrete step in building a sustainable literacy movement in the community.
Contributor: Zulfanisa Nur Isnaini