Calls for expansion of library services in Meru County
Meru, Thursday, May 11, 2023,
KNA by Dorcas Kawira & Juliet Muthoni
Head of the Kenya National Library Services (KNLS) Richard Wanjohi in Meru County says lack of enough space has hampered efforts to fully meet the needs of the community.
He said that the room that serves as a cyber-café in the library is too small to accommodate the increasing number of basic ICT skills learners who get the service for free.
A volunteer and a facilitator of ICT skills at the library Mr. Isaiah Lameck added that he is forced to stream his class of around 50 students into three shifts in a day, each carrying a capacity of around 14 students with three students having to share one computer.
Due to the challenge, Lameck is appealing to the government and any willing person to help in the expansion of the facility and donation of computers for use.
He said that the library has only seven computers that are used to teach those that come seeking basic ICT skills.
However, he added that they have partnered with SOS Children Village from whom they were expecting a donation of computers, a move that would create more learning opportunities for clients.
Lameck also said that there were few staff members working in the library and this causes work overload to the few working there.
“The library offers free programmes to learners and it’s a challenge handling them being the only volunteer and facilitator,” Lameck said.
He noted that many learners were interested in the programmes being offered in the library “with even some traveling all the way from Nairobi to come and learn”.
Patience Mukiri, an 11-year-old, and a class five student said that she loves visiting the library because it’s a place where she could quietly read her books and learn how to write stories through the African bookmaker and African writing maker, an application
Caleb Mutugi, a 15-year-old student at Meru School, said that he enjoys reading story books in the library during his free time.
He added that he likes visiting the library because he could hold group discussions with his peers from other institutions.
Apart from the issuance of books, the library also conducts youth empowerment programmes for youths aged between 18 to 25 years.
“We look for resource people to educate them on mental health, sexuality, and reproduction among other life-equipping programs to make sure the young people grow in the right way,” said Lameck.
They also equip them with skills such as public relations, digital marketing, and online writing and also give them a chance to decide on topics they would like to learn about.
He said expansion and equipping of the facility would ensure that more learners are accommodated in the facility and this would go a long way in instilling the learning culture among the young people.
Courtesy; K.N.A
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