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Libraries: Let`s invest in people
2007-08-29 08:45:39
By Editor
A lot has been done in relation to putting the country in line with globalization and demands of the 21st Century.
Such efforts include social, economic and political liberalisation.
Whatever is being done for the people of Tanzania towards that goal depends upon one crucial factor—empowering the society through acquisition of knowledge.
It goes without saying that if we have to catch up with the modern times, then we have no option but to invest in people.
What is currently being done towards that end is having various educational undertakings, including the construction of new schools and universities, not to mention the provision of student loans and wide range of scholarships.
All these are devoted towards imparting more skills and technology, which are the main weapons in the battle for physical and economic survival in the modern world.
Apart from schools and colleges, there is another institution which can also contribute towards that end. This is none other than the public library.
Having a rich and diverse library service is a good way of enlightening the population and availing much needed free knowledge to people of all walks of life and disciplines.
In Tanzania, we have the government owned Tanzania Library Services, which was commissioned in the 1960s and has a sizeable regional network.
Being a pioneer organization of its own kind, it has done a lot to fight ignorance, despite its obvious limitations.
Whoever visits the TLS libraries today will realize that their condition is not what they used to be.
The book stock is seriously depleted, and it is clear that the books that were brought in three decades ago are the one’s which form the bulk.
This clearly implies that much as TLS has been left to stand on its own, it is clear that it lacks resources needed to provide first class services in this advanced age.
Although tasked with helping the country stay ahead in technology, it is more or less a handicapped institution, which obviously requires a lot of financial support from its patron, the government.
The Third Phase government has come up with a lot of initiatives for developing the country and opening up new avenues.
We do not intend to list or highlight them in this column.
However, we suggest that having a modern library network in Tanzania is something that we cannot do without.
Granted that there is widespread readers’ apathy, starting with the elites to the man at the grassroots, still we do not have the excuse of not investing seriously in public libraries and placing them in enticing environment.
Serious planning and brainstorming has to be undertaken to make our country reach this goal. The fact that in Tanzania, we have hardly any good libraries to speak of is a matter for serious concern.
We must deliberately institute a culture of borrowing, renewing and reserving books by our people.
Yes, we are building a lot of schools, what about the libraries?
Tanzania needs plenty of libraries and a lot of them too! Let us not be scared of investing in people.
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