The Northern Regional Library Authority, which is in dire need, calls on government and philanthropists to support it in terms of resources. The call follows Zaa News’ visit to the library facility in the heart of Tamale on Thursday to see the level of patronage during these holidays.
The Director of Northern Regional Library Authority, Aaron Kuwornu explained to Zaa News that the branches under the Northern sector comprise the regional library office and the Tamale Metro library. He enumerated other branches as Damongo, Gambaga and the defunct library at Salaga which collapsed due to the 1994 conflict. Mr Kuwornu said the level of students’ patronage is encouraging.
Averagely in a month, he said, not less than five thousand visit the children section. He also disclosed that officials of the library facility reach out to students with interesting activities such as reading clinic, meet your author, spelling bee, ICT and mobile library.
The visiting hours at the children section is from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and at the adult section it is between 9: 00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during work days. On Saturdays, they operate half day. The Regional librarian stressed the facility is free of charge except if one wants to be a member then one has to pick up a form and pay a token.
On the falling standard of education in the North, he said, parents should promote reading at home and other activities because a reading parent makes a reading child. At the children section, some students expressed their happiness with Zaa News and urged friends to join. Junior Library Assistant, Ibrahim Abdul-Majeed lamented the challenges the libraries face such as finances and reading materials especially Ghanaian Language and culture books particularly Dagbani books and called on all including authors to come to their aid.
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