Ciputat, FAH Online News – The Library of the Faculty of Adab and Humanities (FAH), UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, held an information literacy session entitled “Smart Freshmen, Quality Information” on Monday, October 12, 2026, at the Abd. Ghani Theater. The program aimed to equip new students with the skills to search for, evaluate, and manage academic references, while enhancing their understanding of academic writing ethics and the use of library facilities in the digital era.

The event featured Gana Royana, S.IP., M.Hum.; Nurseptia Hakim, S.IP.; and Hayatun Nisa, S.IP., as speakers. The session was moderated by Winda Istati, S.IP., Head of the FAH Library. The topics covered included reference management using reference manager applications, plagiarism prevention, and an introduction to the services and collections of the UIN Jakarta Central Library.

In the first presentation, Gana Royana emphasized the importance of reference management skills as an integral part of academic writing. He explained that students need to understand how to find relevant sources, assess the credibility of information, and cite sources accurately in their academic work.

He introduced Mendeley as one of the tools available for reference management. The application helps students organize their reading materials, generate citations, and compile bibliographies more systematically. In addition to Mendeley, students were introduced to Zotero as an alternative that they could choose according to their individual needs and preferences.

The use of reference management applications can save time, reduce citation errors, and make it easier for students to retrieve the sources they have used. Proper reference management also helps ensure consistency between the sources cited in the body of an academic paper and those listed in its bibliography.

In addition to reference management, Gana explained the importance of understanding citation and paraphrasing techniques to prevent plagiarism. Citations in academic writing not only strengthen arguments but also demonstrate the foundations of an author's reasoning and acknowledge the contributions of previous writers and researchers. Students need to understand the difference between direct and indirect quotations and apply appropriate citation styles, including the seventh edition of APA Style, which is commonly used in academic articles and undergraduate theses.

During the session, students were also reminded to use artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly. AI can serve as an assistant in information searches and preliminary discussions, but its output must still be verified for accuracy. Students should trace information back to its original sources, read the references being used, and develop their own writing based on their understanding and independent thinking.

The discussion of academic ethics was further enriched by an explanation of the factors that contribute to plagiarism, including the desire to obtain results instantly, a lack of critical thinking, disregard for academic ethics, and insufficient respect for other people's work. Through this material, students were encouraged not only to produce high-quality writing but also to take responsibility for the sources and information they use.

The next presentation focused on introducing the facilities of the UIN Jakarta Central Library and was delivered by Nurseptia Hakim and Hayatun Nisa. The Central Library occupies a seven-story building and offers a wide range of collections and services to support students' academic needs. Its facilities include general collections, Islamic studies collections, academic works such as undergraduate theses, master's theses, and dissertations, as well as specialized corners featuring collections related to particular fields or institutional partnerships.

The library also provides an online catalog that allows users to search for materials by title, author, or subject. Students can borrow books after activating their library membership. In addition to physical materials, the library offers digital collections and a repository that enable users to access various academic resources online, subject to the access conditions applicable to each collection.

To broaden students' access to scholarly resources, the speakers also introduced several academic databases and publication portals, including Garuda, the UIN Jakarta repository, and scholarly journals available through the university's online services. Access to digital collections and external resources can help students obtain a wider range of references to support coursework and research.

According to data presented during the event, as of September 11, 2026, the UIN Jakarta Central Library held 96,172 digital collections, 48,916 book collections, and served 44,053 library members, supported by 28 librarians. These collections and human resources form part of the library's efforts to meet the information needs of the university's academic community.

In response to technological developments, the UIN Jakarta Central Library promotes the concept of “library everywhere, every space,” emphasizing convenient access to information through library services that are increasingly fast, accessible, and user-oriented. The library also provides spaces for discussion and study, along with other services that support academic activities.

Through this information literacy program, new students are expected to make optimal use of library facilities and develop responsible academic habits. The ability to find credible sources, manage references, use technology critically, and avoid plagiarism constitutes an essential foundation for completing coursework, conducting research, and producing high-quality scholarly work.

Writer: Nurul Fajriyah