<![CDATA[Look at the facts and the development of Indonesian economy, the key problems are the lack of reading culture and the ability to process information critically and creatively. The purpose of this study was to identify the level of reading indulgence, habits, abilities (competencies) in community and to know the public perception of the availability of library's infrastructures. The methodology of this research is to collect empirical data through direct interview techniques and questionnaire and literature study in order to collect information relevant to the topic and issues to be studied. Determination of the sample in this study is using random sampling techniques (multistage random sampling) gradually those are cluster sampling and random sampling. Respondents were selected to represent the community of the elementary school, junior high school, senior high school, students, civil servants, private employees, and the general public. The conclusion of this study is that the majority of residents rate of indulgence, habits, and reading skills are included in the category of very low, while the facilities and infrastructure to support the interests and passions reading category are adequate. This study recommends that the provincial, district / town, or village / Sub district public library should enhanced its role as a source of public reading and the library's collection needs to be improved and updated to attract people to go to the library as well as all stakeholders of libraries have to promote the role, function, and benefits of the library more vigorously. abstrak Melihat fakta-fakta dan perkembangan ekonomi Indonesia, maka permasalahan utama yang dihadapi adalahrendahnya budaya baca dan kemampuan untuk mengolah informasi secara kritis dan kreatif. Adapun tujuanpenelitian ini adalah untuk mengidentifikasi tingkat kegemaran, kebiasaan, kemampuan (kompetensi)membaca di kalangan masyarakat dan mengetahui persepsi masyarakat terhadap ketersediaan Sarana danPrasarana Perpustakaan. Metodologi dalam penelitian ini yaitu mengumpulkan data empiris melalui teknikwawancara langsung dan teknik kuesioner serta studi kepustakaan dalam rangka menghimpun informasiyang relevan dengan topic dan masalah yang akan diteliti. Penentuan sampel menggunakan teknikpengambilan sampel secara acak (multistage random sampling) secara bertahap yaitu Cluster Sampling danRandom Sampling. Responden dipilih yang dapat mewakili masyarakat SD/MI, SLTP/MTs, SLTA/MA,Mahasiswa, PNS, Pegawai Swasta, dan masyarakat umum. Kesimpulan penelitian ini adalah bahwa,mayoritas masyarakat tingkat kegemaran, kebiasaan, dan kemampuan membaca termasuk dalam kategorisangat rendah, sedangkan sarana dan prasaran untuk pendukung minat dan kegemaran membaca tersebutdalam kategori sudah cukup memadai. Penelitian ini merekomendasikan agar Perpustakaan Umum Provinsi,Kabupaten/Kota, atau Desa/Kelurahan ditingkatkan peranannya sebagai sumber bahan bacaan masyarakatdan koleksi perlu ditingkatkan dan diperbaharui untuk menarik minat masyarakat pergi ke perpustakaan sertasemua stake holder perpustakaan untuk semakin giat mempromosikan peran, fungsi, dan manfaatperpustakaan.]]>
