The Library and Archives of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) won 3rd Place at the national level in the Academic Library Innovation Award (ALIA) 2025, organized by the Indonesian Higher Education Library Forum (FPPTI) Central Board. In this competition, UGM represented the province of Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY).
This prestigious award was part of the 4th International Conference on Indonesian Higher Education Libraries (KPPTI), held on October 8–10, 2025, at Tarumanagara University, Jakarta. This year’s conference carried the theme “AI-Driven Academic Libraries: Innovation, Ethics, and the Future of Knowledge Management”, highlighting how artificial intelligence can drive innovation in the academic libraries of the future.
In the competition, the UGM Library and Archives presented an innovation titled “Integration of Artificial Intelligence in the Transformation of UGM Library and Archives: Siniar Pustaka-Kintaka.” This innovation emphasizes the use of AI technology to support the digital transformation of information services through an interactive and inclusive educational podcast platform.
Lilik Kurniawati Uswah, the head of the innovation team, explained that Siniar Pustaka-Kintaka represents a concrete step in transforming library services. “This podcast is our way of expanding access to information, promoting our collections and services, and fostering closer engagement with users, anytime and anywhere,” she said.
The team, comprising Barid Budi Wicaksono, Delta Ira Anggreanie, Stevanus Deni Nur Prasetyo, and Wasilatul Baroroh, captured the judges’ attention with their innovative approach that combines technology, information literacy, and social inclusivity. Each podcast episode is not only engaging but also educational, research-based, and oriented toward community needs.
The uniqueness of Siniar Pustaka-Kintaka lies in its thematic diversity, covering topics ranging from health, history, and philosophy to psychology, each developed using primary sources such as archives, interviews, and academic studies. “We ensure that every episode is grounded in valid data and literature, not merely opinion,” added Lilik Kurniawati Uswah.
In addition, each episode has obtained Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) certificates, recognizing the scholarly contributions of its speakers. The innovation also integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI) throughout the production process, from planning and audio editing to feedback analysis, to ensure the program’s quality, relevance, and sustainability in digital literacy development.
Arif Surachman, SIP., MBA., Head of UGM Library and Archives, expressed his appreciation for the achievement: “This accomplishment demonstrates that libraries are not merely repositories of collections but also centers of innovation and academic creativity. Our integration of AI proves that libraries can adapt to the changing times while upholding scholarly values and inclusivity,” he said.
This success also reaffirms the contribution of the UGM Library and Archives to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education)
through equitable and inclusive access to knowledge, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through the application of AI in information management, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through interdisciplinary collaboration among librarians, academics, and the wider community.
Through Siniar Pustaka-Kintaka, the UGM Library and Archives not only presents digital innovation but also builds a bridge of knowledge that integrates technology, ethics, and humanity. The podcast stands as proof that modern libraries can bring literacy to life, inspiring, educating, and empowering people to keep learning without limits.
Contributor: Wasilatul Baroroh