03 Feb 2014

The newly built Molepolole public library will soon have internet, thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Mr Jacob Sekgoni, chief librarian at the Botswana National Library Service (BNLS) said in an interview that their partnership with the foundation continued to boost their endeavour to promote the use of e-resources to access information and carry out research rather than rely entirely on textbooks.

On related matters, he said that restocking of the library was currently underway. He explained that the readers collection is built over a long period of time and what is currently available is meeting the needs of the customers.

“While this is not enough and more could be done, a budget has been drawn to restock most of the libraries, but funds are never enough to complete the book collection instantly as there are other equally competing needs,” he said.

He stated that libraries country wide have been stocked with government/official documents including acts, policies, development plans and official reports. This was in reference to a question posed as to why there is an absence of some official documents at the library such as Kweneng District Development Plan 7, which would be crucial for inhabitants of the districts to know what is in store for them in the national agenda. 

“As and when new official documents are published by the government printer, such are procured and distributed to all libraries for use by customers,” stated Mr Sekgoni.

He also explained how they promote works of local writers as the custodians of written material for general reading and research. He said BNLS has an arm called the National Reference Library (NRL)mandated to administer the Legal Deposit Act.

It is the NRL that is responsible for the collection, processing and preservation of the literary heritage of Botswana.   The National Library Act, he said, mandates that every book published in Botswana, shall within one month after delivery to the press, be delivered to the librarian of the University of Botswana, and to the chairperson of the library board.

He said this was an important function of the department as it helps preserve and document Botswana’s literary heritage. ENDS