The Polytechnic gets bigger, better library

THE Polytechnic of Namibia officially inaugurated its new, N$70-million library on Friday.The library is one of a number of projects in the institution’s 20-year development plan.

An engineering building, an auditorium and a hotel school were built between 2000 and 2003. Speaking at the inauguration, the Chairman of the Polytechnic Council, Reverend Nangula Kathindi, noted that the Polytechnic’s assets had grown from N$27 million in 1996 to just short of N$400 million this year, calling it “remarkable growth by any means”.Polytechnic Rector Tjama Tjivikua said the library would cater for the needs of an emerging university of science and technology, referring to the name-change the institution is aiming for.The Polytechnic wants its name changed to the University of Science and Technology.It argues that this would allow it to sign recognition agreements with other universities, and that the institution is already a university in all but name.The new building covers 8 625 square metres of land, and is able to accommodate 1 000 users and 400 computers.At present, users have access to about 32 000 printed books, 200 online books, 1 800 CD-ROMS and DVDs, 1 000 videos, 150 printed journals and more than 10 000 online journals.The library was officially inaugurated by President Hifikepunye Pohamba.Pohamba congratulated the Polytechnic on good planning and foresight, saying this was what was needed to reach the country’s goals and objectives as stated in Vision 2030.”Through the construction of this facility and several others that were commissioned in recent years,” he said.”The Polytechnic has demonstrated what can be achieved with proper planning and prudent utilisation of limited resources.”Student representative Gerson Tjitaua reminded the president that Government had not increased its funding to the Polytechnic in the last three years, and that this annual figure still stood at N$79,5 million.Pohamba assured him that this concern would be conveyed to the Minister of Finance, who is attending the Unesco annual conference in Paris, France.Speaking at the inauguration, the Chairman of the Polytechnic Council, Reverend Nangula Kathindi, noted that the Polytechnic’s assets had grown from N$27 million in 1996 to just short of N$400 million this year, calling it “remarkable growth by any means”.Polytechnic Rector Tjama Tjivikua said the library would cater for the needs of an emerging university of science and technology, referring to the name-change the institution is aiming for.The Polytechnic wants its name changed to the University of Science and Technology.It argues that this would allow it to sign recognition agreements with other universities, and that the institution is already a university in all but name.The new building covers 8 625 square metres of land, and is able to accommodate 1 000 users and 400 computers.At present, users have access to about 32 000 printed books, 200 online books, 1 800 CD-ROMS and DVDs, 1 000 videos, 150 printed journals and more than 10 000 online journals.The library was officially inaugurated by President Hifikepunye Pohamba.Pohamba congratulated the Polytechnic on good planning and foresight, saying this was what was needed to reach the country’s goals and objectives as stated in Vision 2030.”Through the construction of this facility and several others that were commissioned in recent years,” he said.”The Polytechnic has demonstrated what can be achieved with proper planning and prudent utilisation of limited resources.”Student representative Gerson Tjitaua reminded the president that Government had not increased its funding to the Polytechnic in the last three years, and that this annual figure still stood at N$79,5 million.Pohamba assured him that this concern would be conveyed to the Minister of Finance, who is attending the Unesco annual conference in Paris, France.