CintaBaca is a non-profit community development organization, focused on empowering neglected communities through literacy. We were first founded and officially registered with the Indonesian governent in 2001.  At that time we started with village libraries in private homes in the towns around Bogor. In 2004 we opened our office in Bogor near Pakuan University and this office also served as an English & Indonesian lending library.

Today Cintabaca is working in 7 different provinces of Indonesia and has around 36 learning centers nationwide.  Each of these locations provide basic library services to the community and also run a variety of non-formal educational programs which are described on the About Our Programs tab of this website. 

Our national office is located in Bogor and includes a two room guest house, 15,000 volumne Indonesian & English library, an Internet Cafe (left) and a special childrens room with hundreds of Indonesian children books. Other city libraries or Learning Centers exist in Medan, Banda Aceh and Palembang and include mostly Indonesian books.

Village Libraries & Reading Posts
Cintabaca is dedicated to get these books and programs out to the more remote areas of Indonesia. Smaller Village libraries are supportted by our regional learning centers (or city libraries) and these village libraries tend to have around 1000-2000 books each. Each village library then also supplies a growing network of community run reading posts like the one shown on the right. Village libraries tend to be in rented or own facilities, while reading posts are often found in private homes, schools and even donated space in governmental offices.

Privately Operated & Community Driven
CintaBaca is totally funded by private donations from within Indonesia and abroad. Several of our larger Learning Centers also have profit generating ventures such as a guest house, and an Internet cafe which help to cover that regions operating expenses. Our Learning Centers also partner with local schools, governments, business and individuals to find discounted (or free) locations for our reading posts and village libraries.  Local book publishers have donated books and CintaBaca has run a number of book drives to collect donated books and magazines.  Volunteers are critical to our survival and involvement from the community helps us determine what services & programs to offer and also helps us to determine what books and resources are appropiate.

Looking Ahead

As Cinta Baca looks to the future, our main priorities currently are to bring our books and services to neglected communities by opening up 200 reading posts in villages around Indonesia. These Reading Posts will become our hands into these communities - hands to run multiple programs that promote literacy, education and understanding as well as strengthen moral values.  To make this dream possible we would like to raise up a stronger donor & volunteer base, form more partnerhips with local governments, schools and business, and develop profit generating ventures that will help us cover some of our administrative costs and make us more sustainable.