Re-introduction of mobile libraries in the offing

Hohoe, April 11, GNA-The Ghana Library Board (GLB) is holding consultations with Regional Co-ordinating Councils and the Ghana Education Service to draw up strategies towards the re-introduction of mobile libraries in the country. The programme would be piloted in two districts in each region. Mr. Omari Tenkorang, Executive Director of the Ghana Library Board (GLB) announced this at the International Children's Book Day (ICBD) celebration in the Volta region in Hohoe on Wednesday.

Basic school pupils and students who distinguished themselves in an Inter-Circuits Essay and Reading Competition in the Hohoe District were honoured as part of the celebration. Mr. Tenkorang said the mobile library service would focus mainly on the remotest areas of the selected pilot districts. He therefore appealed to metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies as well as non-governmental stakeholders to help the GLB to inculcate reading habits in children. He said the second bi-annual GLB-National Youth Essay Competition for students from the Junior High School to the Tertiary levels for next year, was to unearth the talents of students, in addition to enhancing human resource base necessary for nation-building.

Ms. Juliet B. D. Kumah, Hohoe District Director of Education noted that good communication skills are integral part of scholarly pursuits and the exploits of GLB needed to be commended and emulated by others. She said motivation was a strong catalyst that serve as a driving force behind the attainment of excellence and hoped that the GLB experience would contribute to stemming the menace of falling educational standards in the country. Mr. Aalikem Tamakloe, Volta Regional Librarian said children could be taken off the dangers and pressures of urbanization, modernization and globalization, if they imbibed the love for reading and the use of the libraries. He stated that some successful men and women have learnt decent vocations through the use of the library, adding tha; "the developed world still depended on libraries for socio-economic development and growth".

Ms Stella Eleeza and Meriga Ashiayatu both of Saint Teresa's Junior High School (JHS) from the Hohoe-East Circuit won the first positions at the JHS essay writing and reading categories respectively with Master Ernest Kumah of Gbi-Primary in the Gbi-South circuit and Ms Mavis Wumenyo of Holy Rosary in the Hohoe-West circuit emerging tops at the Primary essay writing and reading contest respectively. They received certificates, free registration to use library for a year, novels, exercise books and other stationeries and consolation prizes for participants.