Library Authority appeals for international support

Frederic Noble Baada, the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Librarian of the Ghana Library Authority (GhLA) has appealed to the international community and Ghana’s development partners to support effective operations of the Public Library Systems.

He said the GhLA needed modern computers, internet facilities, enough reading books and literature for efficient services of the PLSs to make tremendous impact on the society.

Mr. Baada regretted that because of lack of support, many communities and towns in the country had no modern library facilities to motivate pupils and students to read and do research works.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview after a durbar to mark the triple-regional celebration of the Mobile Library Day held in Sunyani, Mr. Baada bemoaned dilapidated conditions of public libraries in the country.

He especially mentioned the regional levels, where the facilities were not attracting teenagers, adolescents and the youth to patronise their services.

This, he explained was why the GhLA introduced and was implementing the PLSs to reach out to communities and encourage pupils and students to read literature to polish their reading and writing skills.

The event, attended by pupils and students from selected basic and second cycle schools in the Sunyani Municipality was aimed at whipping up the interest and rekindling the desire for reading among pupils and students.

Mr Baada expressed regret over the poor state of the defunct old Sunyani Library and appealed to corporate bodies, philanthropists and charitable organisations to support and bring the facility to life.

He said the Authority had secured some funding from Newmont GoldCorps Limited to rehabilitate the old Sunyani old Library, but added that the amount was not enough and called for additional support.

Mr. Baada expressed appreciation to the Ghana Investment Fund and Electronic Communications (GIFEC) which donated 10 laptop computers to facilitate the implementation of the PLSs programme in the three regions.