Lack of libraries claimed to have contributed to poor reading culture Print PDF The concept library is viewed as an organized collection of sources of information, made accessible to defined users for reference or borrowing. All over the world, libraries are dedicated to providing free or charged, equitable access to information for all; be it in written, electronic or audiovisual form. Libraries create literate environments, promoting literacy by offering relevant and attractive reading materials for all ages. Libraries bridge social, political and economic barriers, making a special effort to extend services to marginalized people. Public modern libraries unfold the community’s learning potential by providing information on community issues such as health, employment, continuing education and local history, a notion which is not loudly pronounced in most African countries. Libraries are meant to encourage a reading for pleasure and as a prerequisite for continuing education in all literate environments, but contrary to this, Kenyans develop and embrace the technique of reading only at school to excel in exams and often do not experience anything more challenging than textbook-based learning and textbook-based teaching. In reality, dynamic and stimulating literate environments; such as at home, in the classroom, in the workplace and in the community where people cannot imagine daily life without written information are essential to literacy acquisition, development and lifelong use of the library. Nevertheless, in developing countries like Kenya, there is a serious lack of reading materials, attributing to a lack of reading culture. Education involves the development of literate societies and it cannot be attained without providing quality learning materials to schools and if people are to stay literate, they must have access to a wide variety of written materials and continue the habit of reading them. In Kiambu County, which is President Kenyatta’s backyard, there are no public libraries where people can quench their reading thirst and this has seemingly led to poor reading culture within the area. The residents acclaim the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology effort through Kiambu County information office where they use its resource centre as an alternative library where they come and enjoy available facilities while at the same time using their own materials in such a habitable/conducive learning environment. An anonymous source who spoke to KNA, while acknowledging the Ministry of ICT for its noble service provision through its resource centre, laments that the County lacks modern public libraries in all its sub-counties. Ann Nduta Wambui, a student on a three months attachment at County information office, Kiambu who wants to become a librarian by profession observed that the reading culture within Kiambu town is below par, saying that despite the existence of ICT Ministry’s resource centre, the public are not maximizing on the opportunity at hand. The student from North Eastern Technical and Training Institute, Garissa who is undertaking library, archives and information studies said a library is not all about books, but happenings in the surroundings and what happened in the past. The aspiring librarian who hails from Gatundu South narrated how lack of library at her former primary and high schools triggered her passion for the course so as to change and improve the lives of people from her home county. Reflecting on her previous school life, she recalls her friends from other schools talking about their school libraries during the holidays. This developed into her the impetus for enrolling for the course that she is currently pursuing. The visibly confident librarian to be said, “As stated in librarian rules, books are for use, every book has it’s user, every reader it’s book and a library, as a growing organism, saves users,’ time”. The Kiambu residents regrets that several years after independence, and above all the area being the first and fourth Kenya’s Presidents’ home county is still lacking modern public libraries in its sub-counties. She cited that lack of such vital facilities within the county have contributed to poor reading culture and dismal performance in many learning centres, and asked the county government to consider the urgent need for public libraries in all of its sub-counties to stir up county’s reading culture for the posterity. “In USA, a child is introduced to a library at as early age as five years, unlike in Africa where even university students are not acquainted to or are ‘allergic’ to libraries. The aspiring librarian says that as the world becomes global village, information for prosperity, be it in written, electronic or audiovisual form can easily be accessed by members of the public only when well equipped public information centres are made available to the citizenry of the country. “When you go out there and ask people whether they need a library, they out-rightly say ‘No,’ an attitude which might have aggravated the reading culture among most of the young generation. This is an illness that has to be confronted for a better change,” said the perturbed librarian. She added, “If this county is to be wise enough as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise people reading, more good books in more public libraries.” Meanwhile, Ms Wambui advised her colleagues most of who are unemployed youths to be vibrant in life and face myriads of challenges that befall them, reminding them that life is all about hard work, patience and perseverance as disparity adds no value to anyone’s life. The aspiring librarian observed that many youths opt to start life from up, which to her logic shouldn’t be the case, arguing that there is no competition at the top. “For one to see development, he/she must start from below moving upward. Progress in life is like a seed that germinates from the soil, to a tree that produces fruits for prosperity as it endures and lasts for long,” said Wambui. She further pointed out that success is moving from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm and this comes through hard work and commitments in life since nothing can be achieved on a silver platter. By Galgallo B. Molmolla
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 10:47:07 +0000
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