TULUNGAGUNG – Literacy drive efforts in Tulungagung continue to expand as the local library agency provides access to more than 861,000 reading materials, combining printed books and digital collections.

The Tulungagung Library and Archives Office said the collection now includes 51,532 printed books and around 810,000 e-books available to the public.

Officials say the growing collection forms part of a wider effort to strengthen reading habits and improve literacy access across the district.

The regional public library has also received positive responses from university students who regularly use the facility for study and research.

Nadita, a 23-year-old student at UIN Sayyid Ali Rahmatullah Tulungagung, said the quiet environment helps visitors focus for longer periods.

“The atmosphere is calm, so it is comfortable for reading or studying,” she said.

Another student, Zumna, 22, said she often visits the library to complete university assignments.

She added that the available facilities and reading materials help her find academic references more easily.

“I often come to the library to work on assignments. The place is comfortable and helps me focus,” she said.

Yayang, 22, a student at STAI Diponegoro Tulungagung, hopes the institution will continue adding more titles.

She said wider book choices would make the library more useful for students and general readers.

“The collection already helps a lot. I hope they keep adding more books so readers have more options,” she said.

Dina Ariesandi, head of the library division at the local agency, said the administration remains committed to improving literacy services.

She explained that officials regularly update both printed and digital collections to match changing public needs.

“We continue updating library collections so people have diverse reading options that match their needs,” Dina said.

The literacy program also targets areas outside the urban center.

Officials want rural communities to receive the same access to reading materials as residents in town.

The agency plans to expand services so books and digital resources reach more villages across Tulungagung.

“In the future, we want to ensure that books are also accessible in remote areas so literacy access can spread evenly,” Dina said.

The government expects broader access to encourage long-term reading habits and strengthen literacy culture across different age groups.