Identification of Role in Library of Radya Pustaka Museum to Preserving Cultural Heritage

A manager of a museum who realize that a museum is an institution which carry out the function of research should be aware that a museum should have its own library. In Indonesia, there is only a few museums who has its own library. One museum with its own library is Radya Pustaka Museum in Surakarta, Central Java. Therefore, a research about the functions of Library of Radya Pustaka Museum in preserving cultural heritage is very interesting. The method used in this research is case study research with qualitative approach, while the methods for data gathering are interview and observation. The result of the research shows that Library of Radya Pustaka Museum can be identified as research, educative, informative, and recreative instruments. Therefore, the existence of library inside a museum may increase the function of museum itself. A collection of manuscripts which belongs to Library of Radya Pustaka Museum represents cultural values and contains information with historical values. This collection develops into research materials for students and researchers alike, whether domestic or foreign. That collection may also be a magnet for visitors to come and visit the museum.