15 Aug 2018

A senior librarian at Tatisiding Mr Daniel Isaac has encouraged out of school youth to develop an interest in utilising different services offered at the village reading room.

Mr Isaac said such services, which include book loan, inter library lending and the Information Communication Technology (ICT) programme, periodicals, free access to the internet and several others were ideal to access useful information.

Speaking in an interview with BOPA, he said the information availed could impart skills and other problem-solving tactics, which could help them come up with competitive business ideas or enhance their businesses. 

“Different ICT services offered at the village reading room can go a long way in efforts in bringing in the desired developments that out of school youth can venture into so as to improve their standards of living,” he said.

He explained that the internet offered is accessed through the use of computers, which he said something give individuals an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the use of computers, hence closing the computer literacy gap.

Mr Isaac lamented that although such resources were availed to deploy useful information and technology, it was disheartening that only a few youth were forthcoming to benefit from them.

He said only 60 youth within the village had active library membership cards and about 234 visit the reading room on a monthly basis for other services.

Mr Isaac also shared that youth should not only perceive the reading room as a place one would  be forced to engage in books only, but where they could meet and interact and share ideas with others about different social aspects.

On another note, Mr Isaac said although they had limited space within the reading room, those with personal gadgets were given Wi-Fi password to work from outside, but within the premises, which helps avoid congestion.

Mr Isaac said although the reading room only accommodated a limited number, he was pleased that users often gave one another chances by way of alternating and they also used the resources in a responsible manner.

He said ever since the reading room started to be operational, they had never recorded any cases of vandalism.

Meanwhile, Mr Isaac shared that the ICT study programme was progressing well and so far about 225 people comprising both the youth and the elderly had satisfactorily completed the short course on Basic ICT.

He further highlighted that they had also introduced ICT pilot project at Tatisiding Primary School, whose ideal purpose was to equip the pupils with ICT skills. ENDS