Kumasi Library got only 900 cedis for 2013 operations

Ashanti Regional Librarian, Rebecca Akita, has decried the inadequate resources with which libraries in the country are expected to work. Speaking to Kumasi-based Ultimate Radio, she said the Regional Library was innovating and inculcating computer technologies into their operations, but is woefully under-resourced to carry out these initiatives.

The Regional Librarian who was speaking on the Ultimate Morning Show says despite their efforts, not much can be achieved if funds are not forthcoming for their activities.

She revealed that her outfit is originally supposed to receive 900 cedis every quarter, but for the whole of 2013, they received money for only one quarter, which came as far back as November 2013, for the running of the regional library. She lamented the poor attention given to libraries in the country.

“It is only the government which is supporting our libraries, so we can never have enough. When people are crying for food, concerns of library are the last on the table and our monthly impress rarely even comes in,” she bemoaned.

The Ashanti Regional Library was established in 1951 in Kumasi to provide educational, cultural and recreational services to its users.

Although the library is supposed to serve Kumasi and the region as a whole, it is fraught with several challenges including inadequate seats for users in the library, lack of photocopying facilities as well as poor funding amongst others. The situation is the same across all regional libraries nationwide.