Pustaka

Pustaka is a term used in Malay and Indonesian to denote a collection of books or the broader realm of literature. In contemporary Indonesian, the institution of a library is usually called perpustakaan, while pustaka more often refers to books as objects or to literary works themselves. The word appears in compound phrases such as pustaka ilmiah (scholarly literature) or pustaka nasional (national library collection), and it also shows up in historical or ceremonial contexts.

Etymology: The term is rooted in Malay and Indonesian usage and is widely believed to originate from Sanskrit pustaka meaning “book.” It has long been part of classical Malay and Indonesian vocabulary and remains productive in literary and academic language.

Usage: For the institution, librarians and officials typically use perpustakaan; pustaka emphasizes the contents—the books themselves, their genres, or their literary value. Related terms include pustakawan (librarian) and pustaka ilmiah (scholarly literature). In everyday speech, pustaka may appear in phrases such as “menjelajahi pustaka” (to browse the books) or “pustaka kuno” (ancient manuscripts). In Malay- and Indonesian-speaking regions, pustaka can also appear in titles or names that evoke a collection of books or a literary heritage.