Mobile Library Service launched in Ashanti Region
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The service involves the transportation of library books and computers with Internet service to deprived rural areas to be patronised by pupils and students in schools in those areas.
The Ashanti Region has one mobile library van stocked with 8,785 (5,794 for juvenile and 2,991 for adult), other variety of books and four computers and its accessories.
The MLS initiative in the region is collaboration between the Ghana Library Authority (GLA) and the Ghana Book Trust (GBT), with support from CODE, a Canadian International literacy non-governmental organisation.
Currently, Asante Akim South and Adansi North are the only two districts in the region that are benefitting from the service but with the launch, the service is being extended to the Amansie Central and the Bosome Freho districts.
The programme which had the theme “Sustaining mobile library service delivery through effective collaboration with all stakeholders” , brought together the various stakeholders of education.
Launching the service, the board Chairman of the GBT, Mr Eric Offei, called on students to develop interest in reading more books instead of spending their time playing video games and watching television programmes.
He said reading should be given a critical look if education development could make any impact in the nation’s development.
Mr Offei pledged the support of the Ghana Book Trust to the GLA to inculcate the habit of reading into the people, adding that the trust is currently supporting 45 schools in the region in library management and strategies for teaching good reading.
The Ashanti Regional Librarian, Mrs Rebecca Akita, in her welcome address, commended the various stakeholders for their support for the Ghana Library Authority in developing and promoting the culture of reading among children in rural areas through the mobile library service.
She said currently, a total of 864 children and 40 adults had been registered under the mobile library service in the two districts.
According to Mrs Akita, 80 to 90 per cent of schools in rural areas in the country did not have library facility, a situation she described as serious and called for something to be done about the situation.
The Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr Eric Offei, in a keynote address, said the delivery of quality education could not be left to the Government and the Ghana Education Service alone and therefore called on all stakeholders to contribute their quota towards quality education delivery in the country.
The Programme Manager of CODE, Mr Willy Rangira, in a message, pledged to continue to support the development of education in the country, especially in reading and library management in schools.
By Felix A. Baidoo/Ghana