Libraries Are Hearts Of The Schools
ALLOW me to review some of the hidden treasure of libraries which are ignored by many in society.
For many years one song has been sung by one person with a soft voice yet no one is responding so that many mixed voices can be heard to make the song sweet. And that song is the high failure rate of grade 10 and 12 learners. Namibian schools, except non-government schools, are supported by Education Library Service (ELS) a subdivision of the Directorate Namibia Library and Archives Service (NLAS) of the Ministry of Education. ELS provides resources to school libraries which support the curriculum needs of learners and teachers.
The question is whether learners have access to these resources? Are the school principals considering the importance of school libraries? Can a school function properly without a library? Can learners achieve better results without a library? What is the role of the public library, national library, special library, academic library and/or school library in society? These are debatable issues which may raise more questions than give answers. A school library is an intellectual space for the development of a wide range of information that leads to the creation of deep knowledge that opens up opportunities for lifelong learning. It is a place where learners develop skills in order to become effective users of ideas and information to develop a love of reading. It should not be ignored that the school library is the heart of the school.
The heart pumps blood to all parts of the body, in order for the body to function properly, so the heart needs to function properly as well. Hence the school library pumps knowledge which cannot be inherited. School and libraries are two inseparable concepts. Where there is a school the library should be there to support the curriculum needs of the school, and where there is a library there should be someone to acquire what is hidden in the Library Resources. The role of school libraries is comparatively the same worldwide. It is believed that school libraries offer learning services to learners as well as equip them with knowledge and skills and support the curriculum needs of its teachers. Numerous researchers emphasise that the school library plays a role in academic performance of learners. Researchers have also established that learners who attend schools with well-developed and collaborative library programmes achieve better results. Yes, learners can achieve better results if they become friends of the library, “because the library provides access to books, access to books allow children to read more, reading more creates better readers”.
Will the pass rate ever increase to 70% at some point? I doubt this because school libraries or libraries in general are the lowest of priorities in educational spending, the majority of schools have no library, and if the school possesses one it is either a few shelves with outdated books or a cupboard with a few books. The budget for a school library or libraries in general is extremely low and cannot cater for all phases or satisfy the information needs of users. In order for the school library to play its role efficiently and effectively the government should intervene and consider libraries as vital.
A school library lays the foundations for the future use of public and academic libraries. Public and school libraries are vital institutions which cannot be separated from education. The provision of public and school libraries is crucial and indispensable to learners and adults.
As information is more quickly disseminated and shared through computer networks and other telecommunications, human beings increase their ability to build new knowledge. This knowledge can be obtained at the library free of charge.
Teachers may teach research processes masterfully but if learners do not find and use quality information, their projects will suffer and their results will be poor.
Belinda Lizazi-Mbanga
By email