Over 300 books stolen from community library

The National Service Secretariat Library at Kraboa Coaltar has been closed down after more than 300 books were stolen from it.

Only 351, out of the 700 books are left while the rest have mysteriously found their way out without proper records Mr Agbesi Freeman, Assemblyman for Coaltar, told the Ghana News Agency.

The GNA had gone to ask Mr Freeman about the continued closure of the library while schools have reopened.

The "Cathy Hawke's Memorial Library" was donated to the town in 1997 to serve senior and junior secondary schools there and was entrusted into the care of National Service Personnel's appointed periodically from the District Co-ordinating Council.

He explained that because the community could not provide a permanent librarian, when the library was commissioned, the National Service Secretariat took over and brought its personnel from Suhum to run it.

Mr Freeman said to their dismay, they were informed that the personnel in-charge had closed the place without informing the community.

He said in view of this, he ordered an immediate stocktaking, which revealed that a number of books were missing from the shelves and the inventory book had also been tempered with, with some parts torn off.

Mr Freeman said he reported the conduct of the personnel to the District Co-ordinating Council at Suhum.

Some of the stolen books were on Modern Science, Mathematics, Literature, Chemistry, Engineering and novels.