Network of Book Clubs and Reading Culture Promoters in Nigeria, (NBRP) has applauded the Lagos State Government (LASG) for its renovation of public libraries.
Mr Richard Mammah, President of NBRP, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, in Lagos, said the libraries would be most beneficial to the populace and further promote reading culture.
“Given our involvement with reading spaces and promotions in Lagos and across, I must declare renovation of the libraries by Lagos State government is a good development in the right direction, laudable and should be commended by all.
“However, more needs to be done in the overall, going by the fact that this is a large and very populated city; training of personnel should be considered as the upgraded libraries have to meet with standard.
“This is important and part of efforts to bring to bear maintenance culture, because libraries should be clean, attractive, furnished, and well resourced with information materials that are both physical and electronic, ” Mammah said.
He warned users of the facility and personnel to see it as their own, use it responsibly, defend it and blow the whistle where they see abuse.
“NBRP is available to take it up, we must protect and improve our existing libraries and seek to get more,” he said.
The NBRP President also solicited addition of a book clubs component, to attract more ardent and responsible readers.
According to him, such clubs will own the facility even without being paid and be available to volunteer to help in ensuring that the books and libraries they love are sustained, which is a key for long term maintenance.
He said that the NBRP, National Library of Nigeria (NLN) and the Nigerian Library Association, (NLA) had signed an already operational MOU to help ensure that book clubs are seamlessly established in all public across Nigeria.
Mammah urged the authorities to key into the scheme for libraries under the Local Government Areas (LGA) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) management in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos State government has completed the renovation of public libraries across the state to meet ICT standard and global compliance.
The upgrade of public libraries, equipped with new furniture, books, computer system and internet facilities, is in line with the commitment of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to broaden access of knowledge. (NAN)