Abstract
Objective – To map how public libraries in Indonesia support the social inclusion of older adults and to identify lessons applicable to other resource-constrained settings.
Methods – This study used a scoping review design guided by established scoping review frameworks and reported according to PRISMA-ScR. Searches were conducted in DOAJ, Scopus, and Web of Science, and supplemented with targeted searches of Indonesian institutional repositories. Publications from 2014 to 2025 were screened using predefined eligibility criteria. Fifteen studies were included. Data were charted and synthesized thematically to identify service models, engagement modes, and recurring constraints and enablers.
Results – The included studies report five service models: community-based programs; intergenerational and collaborative initiatives; tailored age-friendly services; outreach and home-based provision; and assisted digital inclusion. Older adults’ engagement is described in four modes: as participants, peer mentors or facilitators, co-designers or evaluators, and outreach users requiring support. Common constraints include limited funding and staffing, accessibility gaps, digital divides, geographic inequality, and weak documentation and evaluation. The most consistent enablers are cross-sector partnerships (e.g., with primary health care, local government, and community organizations), volunteer involvement, and strong community networks. The synthesis informs a conceptual framework for age-friendly library services and a set of practice-oriented principles for local adaptation.
Conclusion – Evidence from Indonesia suggests that inclusive services for older adults are more likely to be sustained when they are partnership-based, community-anchored, and supported by outreach and assisted digital access. More consistent documentation and outcome reporting are needed to strengthen the evidence base and improve transferability to other low-resource settings.