Why Libraries Are Significant

MANY people, especially in Namibia, don’t know the significance of libraries. Most people have this attitude that libraries are all about books.

Yes, libraries are about books but most importantly libraries are centres of information. We deal with problems or activities everyday and they all require information to execute them.

Information is the key to success but what’s the main source of information? Libraries are the main source of information. Libraries are the foundation and major generators of information and provide successful key solutions to daily activities.

Libraries play a major role because they feed us with relevant information that we need in our everyday lives. Libraries are very useful to you, professional researchers, students, tourists and other information seekers.

This is the 21st century, and we are a generation of information technology. The major problem we have in Namibia is what I call a lack of ‘reading culture’. This is very scarce in Namibia. People don’t like reading or going to libraries just for the pleasure of reading. How do we expect to know or become an expert if we don’t read often enough?

I encourage all Namibians to start visiting nearby libraries (community, regional or national) and read more to improve or excel in their fields of expertise. What you already know is not enough because there’s more to learn. Therefore my fellow Namibians, let’s adopt a reading culture.

We are blessed to have libraries in this country. Fellow Namibians, the time for change is now, not later. Let’s shift our mindset for the better and make the Land of the Brave a Nation of information excellence! Let us become an information based nation.

You will be proud one day if you make that change. Make that change now! It starts with you, so visit a nearby library today and read with passion.

 

Andreas

Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Library

Swakopmund

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