A review on "Time to Renew our Love Affairs with Public Libraries". This article explains why libraries are becoming less visited by people.

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Time to Renew Our Love Affairs with Public Libraries
By: Rozi Ismail
Reviewed by: Muhammad Abbas Abdul Razak
Through the above article, the writer laments why people in Malaysia at the
present time do not see the relevance of the public library. In the article, the writer
explains how she fell in love with books and reading due to an early introduction to
public library during her childhood. She believes that public library has the
potential of liberating the human minds. She also deems the public library as a
place full of treasures (knowledge and information) and as an essential institution
for social progress.
She also brings to the awareness of her readers that Malaysians read at a rate of
two books per year. According to her, some Malaysians do feel that public library
has no future in the Digital Age. She also explains that community leaders do not
use the library, this indirectly states that they are not being good role models for
the simpleton to follow. She also feels that there is lack in the genuine campaign
launched to stress the benefits derived by utilizing the public library. Besides
stressing the importance of public libraries in the country, she also questions her
readers as to why activities like book launch, reading by the authors are not taking
place in the public libraries. By raising such question, she states the shortcomings
of the public libraries.
In her assessment, in the modern world like what we have today, the role of public
library has been taken over by radio, cinema, television and also the Internet. As
such the writer thinks public libraries have become less important as a source of
knowledge, information and entertainment. Furthermore, she claims that public
libraries have not taken the challenges to compete with the other sources of
knowledge, information and learning. The public libraries in this country have to
diversify their services, not only to concentrate on the domain of books. Through
her experience she has found out that public libraries in other countries provide a
good collection of audio-visual item on historical documentations and feature films.
With regards to the middle class citizens in this country, the writer states that they
do not go to public libraries for the simple reason they can afford to buy the books
and they do not see a need to borrow from the library. The writer considers that
States and municipalities show little enthusiasm in promoting libraries to be an
important place of reference for knowledge and information. This attitude of the

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authorities has been clearly reflected on the insufficient budget allocated for the
improvement of public libraries.
In realizing the conditions and problems faced by the public libraries, the writer
proposes the need for the digitalization of the services rendered by them. By
doing so, she feels that there will be a free flow of information that can be made
available to all class of people living in the country. Finally, she calls her readers to
create a reading culture to instill in people the love for libraries.
Generally I agree to the many things mentioned by the writer in her article. It is a
known fact that Malaysians read to little compared to people in the developed
countries. I feel in order to reach the status of a developed nation by the year 2020,
Malaysians should cultivate the love for knowledge and education. One way of
having such love is by going to the libraries in search of knowledge and
information. Though we are living in a digitalized world, physically going to the
library is a traditional way of seeking knowledge. By doing so, in the case of a
Muslim, we can live up to what has been said by Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.: “ He
who goes out in search of knowledge is certainly in the path of Allah until he
returns home.” In my opinion though this hadith basically refers to seeking
knowledge in the madrasahs, schools, colleges and universities, it could be referred
to those who go to the libraries as well. Furthermore, the first word of the Holy
Qur’an calls the whole of humanity to read. Reading is one way to gain knowledge.
In Malaysia, a lot of Muslim parents take their children to watch a movie, or make
a visit to KFC, Mc Donald and other outlets but very few take their children to
bookshops, book fair and libraries. The government and schools should intensify
the effort in organizing campaign for a lifelong education and in producing a
reading and knowledgeable society. Much of the things highlighted by the writer in
the article, refers to people living in the urban and their attitude to public libraries,
while the need for education and libraries for people in the rural areas found to be
missing. I strongly feel that there is a greater need for the government to open
libraries in whatever scale for the rural community. By doing so, I feel the gap
between students in the urban and rural in terms of knowledge, information,
education and as resource centres can somehow be narrowed.
In the cities, the government should open more public libraries, though on small
scales, near major housing estates for students to spend time with books and
learning. This can in a way keep the students from getting involved in social
ills.