Medan, July 20, 2026 – The Head of the University of North Sumatra (USU) Library, Prof. Dr. Syahril Efendi, S.Si., M.I.T., served as the inspector of the university's morning assembly held at the USU Rectorate on Monday (July 20). The event, which took place in the courtyard of the USU Rectorate, was attended by the university's leadership, directors, heads of agencies, chairpersons of institutes, and administrative staff across the university.
In his address, Prof. Syahril Efendi encouraged the entire academic community to prepare for the rapid changes brought about by the digital era. He emphasized that higher education institutions are now entering The Era of Ultimate Excellence, a period in which institutional competitiveness is determined by the ability to innovate, produce high-quality research, and develop an integrated digital ecosystem.
He stressed that university libraries are no longer merely repositories of collections but must evolve into the heart of a digital knowledge ecosystem capable of supporting learning, research, and innovation in a sustainable manner. In line with this vision, the USU Library has developed the USU Library Integrated Digital Transformation Blueprint 2026–2031, with the goal of establishing a Smart Academic Library that supports world-class research, innovation, and learning.
Furthermore, Prof. Syahril outlined six key pillars that underpin the USU Library's transformation strategy: the development of digital library infrastructure; intelligent information systems powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI); a comprehensive research support center; a knowledge management ecosystem; the enhancement of digital literacy; and collaborative innovation spaces. These six pillars are designed to strengthen library services while improving the quality of research and scholarly publications at the University of North Sumatra.
On the occasion, he also presented several initiatives that have been implemented during the initial phase of the library's digital transformation. These include the transformation of the university repository into the Science and Technology Journey Series (STJS), the introduction of the Digital Shelf Packaging (Kemasan Rak Digital/KRD) innovation, the development of the USU Library Journal of Multidiscipline Science (ULJMS), the launch of the USU Library Digital Waqf Program, and the redesign of the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) to make it smarter, more integrated, and more accessible for the university's academic community.
Prof. Syahril emphasized that the success of the digital transformation cannot be achieved by the USU Library alone. Instead, it requires strong collaboration among all university units. He noted that integrated data management, aligned scholarly publication policies, and a stronger culture of digital literacy are essential factors in supporting the University of North Sumatra's strategic objective of achieving global academic and research excellence.
Concluding his address, Prof. Dr. Syahril Efendi invited all university leaders and administrative staff to work together in realizing the USU Library's vision of becoming a Smart Academic Library that serves as a hub for knowledge development, research, and innovation. He expressed his hope that this transformation would broaden access to knowledge for students and faculty members while enhancing the University of North Sumatra's competitiveness on the international stage.