Library Management in Rural Based Community Participation

This study aims to explore the important roles libraries in rural areas in meeting the needs of the community for information and to look at the community participation in running the library to maintain its existence. The design of this research is explorative qualitative applying a case study approach. The location of this research is in various libraries in Semarang regency. In exploring the data it applies cultural studies paradigm that pays particular attention to specific object with employing various perspectives in order to understand the relation of power of the community to the bigger society. Finding shows that despite using simple management system to run the library and serve the community, the library is able to provide the needs of the community for informations. It shows the creativity of the community in attempting to maintain the existence of the library although it is not supported by the government.