Libraries to be diversified

Koforidua, July 19, GNA - The Ghana Library Board (GLB) is to take delivery of 10 mobile library vans from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) this year as part of efforts to revamp its outreach programme and serve as the fulcrum for devolving knowledge at the grassroots.

The vans to be located in every region, would serve as the springboard to make available vital educational materials to rural communities and students who require such critical knowledge for their educational pursuits.

Mr Thomas Brown, National Organizer of Children's Library at GLB who announced this at the "2006 Children's Book Day" at Koforidua on Tuesday, also hinted attempts by the GLB to introduce electronic-libraries into the system.

The Day, which formed part of efforts by GLB to encourage children, especially those in basic schools to develop habits of reading and literacy, was marked with a quiz competition and a 'spelling bee' among six primary and Junior Secondary Schools within New Juaben Municipality. Harmony International Primary School emerged the best in the primary category while GHATECO JSS emerged tops in the JSS division. The winners took home books and certificates.

Mr Brown said GLB was seeking funding from various sources to acquire a large stock of computers for the mounting of a nationwide Electronic-Learning network to assist students in the rural areas to be abreast with the ever-widening information technology sphere. Nana Kwasi Adjei-Boateng, New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, admitted that not much could be served in the nation's educational drive without functional libraries since the facility generally served as the storehouse of knowledge.

He advised educational planning authorities to help design facilities and programmes that would encourage children acquire the habit of reading at least a book a month. Nana Adjei-Boateng asked the Municipal Educational Directorate to consider making reading contests a regular feature for schools within the municipality.

Madam Felicia Budu, Acting Eastern Regional Director of Education, stressed the importance of libraries, especially the value of books to moulding and forming attitudes and habits. She advised the participating students to concentrate less on motion films and more reading to develop a large repertoire for future leadership positions. Miss Victoria Obeng, Co-ordinator of Basic Schools within New Juaben Municipality, said students who patronized libraries were most likely to perform better than their colleagues and asked the students to inculcate reading habits among them.