DAKPENA CALLS FOR SUPPORT FOR TAMALE LIBRARY (PAGE 18, OCT 8, 2010)

A NOTABLE traditional leader in Tamale, the Dapkema Naa Mohammed Dawuni, has called on the government and organisations in the Northern Region to help stock the regional library in Tamale.
According to him, the development of the intellectual capacities of children in the area depend largely on how well stockeds the library is, since many of them are from families that cannot afford to buy them books to read.
The Dapkema made the call when he paid a visit to the Northern Regional Library in Tamale to interact with the management and have first hand assessment of the operations of the library and its challenges.
He and his entourage were received by the Regional Librarian, Mr Aaron Kuwornu, who took the chief and his entourage round the facility.
The Dakpema said the library was dear to his heart because of its role in enhancing the reading and speech abilities of children in Tamale.
The Regional Librarian expressed delight over the Dakpema’s visit, describing it as historic.
He said the library had a number of books to enhance the knowledge and reading abilities of children and adults and, therefore, expressed the hope that the Dakpema would encourage more children to utilise the library.
Mr Kuwornu stated that the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) was supporting the library to start an Internet cafe to enable patrons have access to online research materials.
He said through the same assistance from the GIFEC, the library would soon start a mobile library programme that would ensure that books and computers are taken to children in the rural areas to use at specific periods.
Mr Kuwornu again mentioned that the library, in partnership with a Tamale-based non-governmental organisation, HACEP, had acquired 25 computers from eIFLnet, an international organisation that supports the development of information, communication and technology facilities in public libraries in developing countries.
“We would use the computers to help disadvantaged children in parts of Tamale to acquire basic skills in computer,” he explained, adding that this would also help the children to use their time wisely, instead of engaging in acts that are detrimental to their well-being.
On challenges facing the library, Mr Kuwornu cited under-staffing and inadequate sitting capacity.
He said each month, the library recorded an attendance of about 6,000 people.