Africa-Press – Botswana. Libraries are needed to support effective knowledge acquisition and education, says Library director for the University of Botswana, Mr Alphege Maisiri.
Mr Maisiri said this at the International Library Week commemoration organised by Botswana Open University under the theme: Conversations Around the Library”.
Mr Maisiri said the annual commemoration highlighted the valuable role libraries and librarians played in transforming lives and strengthening communities.
He thanked the Botswana Open University for arranging such an event.
He pointed out that there had been huge changes in libraries caused by rapid technological developments, noting that now libraries could automate, digitalise and preserve collections, making them searchable and widely accessible to anyone online 24/7.
For her part, BOU Library director, Ms Naniki Maphakwane encouraged Batswana to come up with effective ways to use the materials found in libraries to better their lives.
“Libraries across the country offer free services and even accommodate the underprivileged as they provide them with a space to study and at times the public uses it to hold meetings,” said Ms Maphakwane.
“Libraries help in supporting researchers to come up with renowned material that is authentic and it helps the universities to produce literate and skillful students that will in the end give back to the community, she said.
Ms Thabeah Motubedi, a BOU Maun office official said the impact of digitalization of library materials had increased access to information resources for remote users.
“With all these technological advances, the focus of libraries is also changing, looking at new skills development, new strategies, new services and how to do business in the 21st century library,” she said.
Ms Motubedi said changes and future possibilities were bright and exciting, adding that the flow of information was satisfactory, therefore the public should make use of the material.
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