July 15, 2015 By Samuel Ben Turay
Some 50 librarians at the Sierra Leone Library Board have undergone a two-day training in records keeping and management.
The programme, which was organised by Rise Network with support from Africa Library Project and School Salone, is expected to conclude today.
Speaking at the event, Director of Society for Knowledge Management, Umaru Bangura, said the aim of the training was to enhance knowledge among librarians about the importance of handling learning and teaching materials for future use.
He said the goal of the training was to provide librarians with the requisite knowledge, skills and ability to function effectively and efficiently in both information services division and in schools.
Bangura explained that Rise Network comprises four institutions, namely Society for Knowledge Management, Sierra Leone Library Board, Learning Foundation, and Village Link.
He said the training was a follow up to the distribution of books to schools’ libraries across the country, provided by Society for Knowledge Management.
He said his organisation had formed strong partnership with the Africa Library Project in the United States and that they have been cooperating towards boosting the culture of reading in Sierra Leone.
Earlier, chairman of the opening session, Harold N. Koroma, expressed the need for teachers and learners to uphold a culture of reading. He said knowledge acquired must be put into full practice, and called on the trainees to strongly advise pupils to make proper use of their school libraries.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Librarian, Mrs. Wusha Conteh disclosed that although there are twenty libraries nationwide, most people do not use the facilities because the culture of reading is generally weak in the country.
“Since 1958 when the Sierra Leone Library Board was established by an Act of Parliament, it has been serving the general public, although the reading culture is weak as compared to other African countries,” noted Mrs. Conteh.