By: Dr. Ade Abdul Hak, S.Ag., S.S., M.Hum., CiQnR

Behind the bookshelves, catalog systems and computer screens where we help find references, there is something that is often forgotten: the soul of the librarian. We are often considered “bookkeepers” or “librarykeepers”—even though this work is much more meaningful. The world is increasingly complex, information is increasingly flooding, and we need more than just technical skills. We need reflection, values, and even... a little philosophy.
Luciano Floridi, a philosopher from Italy, said that library and information science is actually applied information philosophy. It means? Yes, we not only take care of data, but also think about ethics: who can know what? Is this information useful or misleading? We are not catalog machines—we determine direction.
Likewise, André Cossette from Canada called the librarian a fighter for freedom of thought. In his hands there is access, truth, and opportunities for people to learn. So the library is not a bookstore, but a place where people become fully human. And librarians? Not a technician, but a value guard.
From his homeland and the Islamic world, there is Kuntowijoyo. Kuntowijoyo reminded that knowledge must start from faith, be processed with reason, and lead to charity. Abdul Hak continued with the idea of prophetic librarianship— librarians as heirs to the prophetic mission: spreading the truth, maintaining the integrity of information, and standing tall amidst the onslaught of hoaxes and disinformation. In this mission, there are three keywords: humanization, liberation, and transcendence—we help people become more humane, freer from ignorance, and closer to the meaning of life. Mulyadhi Kartanegara added an important layer: knowledge must be holistic. Don't just be smart, but also clear-hearted. Don't just be a sophisticated system, but also have a sharp conscience. Librarians can be a bridge between technology and wisdom, between science and manners.
In the Indonesian context, we must know these two names: Blasius Sudarsono and Putu Laxman Pendit. Blasius views librarians as cultured individuals—our work is not just a task, but devotion. He wants librarians to have a personality that is reflective, ethical and aware of their social role. Meanwhile, Putu emphasized: librarians are not followers of the system, but creators of knowledge. He encourages us to think, research and build scientific traditions that suit Indonesian character. They both believe: a good librarian is one who is willing to think, ask questions, and is not afraid to take a stand.
So, why should librarians philosophize? Because if we just organize data without asking why, we are only one step away from becoming robots. But if we want to think, reflect and ask “what is all this for?”, then this profession will feel alive—valuable, meaningful and happy.
And who knows... while serving users, we are also serving civilization.