Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo (UMPWR) – Reading is not simply about understanding a story or gaining new knowledge. Through reading, students can also learn to express their ideas, think critically, and put what they have understood into writing.
This was the focus of the Fiction and Nonfiction Book Review Writing Workshop organized by the UMPWR Library Unit (UPT Perpustakaan UMPWR) in collaboration with the Purworejo Regency Library and Archives Agency (Dinas Perpustakaan dan Kearsipan Kabupaten Purworejo). The workshop was held at the “Puruhita Pustaka” Library of SMP Negeri 6 Purworejo on Monday (28/9/2026).
A total of 25 students took part in the workshop, which featured Dr. Herlina Setyowati, M.Pd., Vice Dean of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) at UMPWR and a lecturer in the Indonesian-Javanese Language Education Study Program, as the resource person.
The activity was designed to strengthen students’ critical reasoning skills, help them express their ideas in writing, and foster an active reading culture. The workshop was also part of efforts to strengthen the School Literacy Movement while supporting the development of school libraries and improving the quality of their services.
The workshop was conducted in an interactive atmosphere. Before presenting the main material, Dr. Herlina invited the participants to share stories about the books they had read during the previous week. From this discussion, the students were then introduced to ways of turning what they read into a written book review.
The session covered both fiction and nonfiction book reviews. To provide a more concrete example, the resource person also presented a book review she had written. The participants took turns reading the review section by section while discussing the elements contained in the piece.
During the practical session, participants did not need to look for books elsewhere. Since the workshop was held in the library, they were encouraged to choose a book they had previously read or one that caught their interest from the collection at the “Puruhita Pustaka” Library. The selected book then became the basis for their own book review.
Once they had completed their reviews, the participants were given the opportunity to read their work aloud. In this way, the activity not only strengthened their writing skills but also encouraged them to gain confidence in expressing their ideas in front of others.
The Principal of SMP Negeri 6 Purworejo, Wahyu Kurnia Lestari, M.Pd., also encouraged the participants to develop a regular reading habit.
“Intelligence grows when we make reading books a habit,” she said.
Meanwhile, Head of the Library Division at the Purworejo Regency Library and Archives Agency, Sigit Sudibyo, S.Sos., emphasized that writing begins with understanding what we read.
“To be able to write, we must first understand the contents of a book. Understanding a book can begin with reading,” he said.
Dr. Herlina Setyowati also reminded the participants that reading offers more than information and knowledge. Books can also help readers discover and understand values that are relevant to life.
“By reading books, we gain not only knowledge but also values,” she said.
The activity was also attended by librarians from UMPWR, SMP Negeri 2, SMP Negeri 4, and SMP Negeri 5 Purworejo, as well as the Head of the Library Division and two librarians from the Purworejo Regency Library and Archives Agency.
Through this collaboration, UMPWR hopes that literacy activities can continue to grow and go beyond simply reading books. Reading, understanding, writing, and having the confidence to express ideas are all important parts of building a vibrant literacy culture in schools.
