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Time to Renew Our Love Affairs with Public Libraries

By: Rozi Ismail
Reviewed by: Muhammad Abbas Abdul Razak

Through the above article, the writer laments why people in Malaysia at the present time do not see the relevance of the public library. In the article, the writer explains how she fell in love with books and reading due to an early introduction to public library during her childhood. She believes that public library has the potential of liberating the human minds. She also deems the public library as a place full of treasures (knowledge and information) and as an essential institution for social progress. She also brings to the awareness of her readers that Malaysians read at a rate of two books per year. According to her, some Malaysians do feel that public library has no future in the Digital Age. She also explains that community leaders do not use the library, this indirectly states that they are not being good role models for the simpleton to follow. She also feels that there is lack in the genuine campaign launched to stress the benefits derived by utilizing the public library. Besides stressing the importance of public libraries in the country, she also questions her readers as to why activities like book launch, reading by the authors are not taking place in the public libraries. By raising such question, she states the shortcomings of the public libraries. In her assessment, in the modern world like what we have today, the role of public library has been taken over by radio, cinema, television and also the Internet. As such the writer thinks public libraries have become less important as a source of knowledge, information and entertainment. Furthermore, she claims that public libraries have not taken the challenges to compete with the other sources of knowledge, information and learning. The public libraries in this country have to diversify their services, not only to concentrate on the domain of books. Through her experience she has found out that public libraries in other countries provide a good collection of audio-visual item on historical documentations and feature films. With regards to the middle class citizens in this country, the writer states that they do not go to public libraries for the simple reason they can afford to buy the books and they do not see a need to borrow from the library. The writer considers that States and municipalities show little enthusiasm in promoting libraries to be an important place of reference for knowledge and information. This attitude of the

authorities has been clearly reflected on the insufficient budget allocated for the improvement of public libraries. In realizing the conditions and problems faced by the public libraries, the writer proposes the need for the digitalization of the services rendered by them. By doing so, she feels that there will be a free flow of information that can be made available to all class of people living in the country. Finally, she calls her readers to create a reading culture to instill in people the love for libraries. Generally I agree to the many things mentioned by the writer in her article. It is a known fact that Malaysians read to little compared to people in the developed countries. I feel in order to reach the status of a developed nation by the year 2020, Malaysians should cultivate the love for knowledge and education. One way of having such love is by going to the libraries in search of knowledge and information. Though we are living in a digitalized world, physically going to the library is a traditional way of seeking knowledge. By doing so, in the case of a Muslim, we can live up to what has been said by Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.: He who goes out in search of knowledge is certainly in the path of Allah until he returns home. In my opinion though this hadith basically refers to seeking knowledge in the madrasahs, schools, colleges and universities, it could be referred to those who go to the libraries as well. Furthermore, the first word of the Holy Quran calls the whole of humanity to read. Reading is one way to gain knowledge. In Malaysia, a lot of Muslim parents take their children to watch a movie, or make a visit to KFC, Mc Donald and other outlets but very few take their children to bookshops, book fair and libraries. The government and schools should intensify the effort in organizing campaign for a lifelong education and in producing a reading and knowledgeable society. Much of the things highlighted by the writer in the article, refers to people living in the urban and their attitude to public libraries, while the need for education and libraries for people in the rural areas found to be missing. I strongly feel that there is a greater need for the government to open libraries in whatever scale for the rural community. By doing so, I feel the gap between students in the urban and rural in terms of knowledge, information, education and as resource centres can somehow be narrowed. In the cities, the government should open more public libraries, though on small scales, near major housing estates for students to spend time with books and learning. This can in a way keep the students from getting involved in social ills.