Library holds Customer Appreciation Day
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Universiti Teknologi Mara ( UiTM) Sarawak Tun Abdul Razak Library ( PTAR) in collaboration with the university’s Corporate Communications and International Relations Unit is holding a three- day PTAR Customer Appreciation Day at the library of UiTM Campus 1 starting yesterday.
The biannual event aims to highlight the importance of libraries to the general public, especially students, on the use of the most efficient and up- todate library services and reveal the role of libraries for the betterment of society.
According to UiTM Sarawak deputy rector for research and industrial linkage, Associate Professor Dr Rasidah Mahdi, a library is the heart of academic excellence in preserving the knowledge of an institution.
“A library today still plays a very important role in providing services to source for the latest information and its role is still relevant despite the rapid development of technology,” Rasidah said in her opening speech at the event’s launch at PTAR yesterday.
The launching ceremony was graced by Kota Samarahan MP Rubiah Wang.
Rubiah emphasised that such a programme is crucial in promoting the role of libraries as professional units in the management of information to the younger generation, especially school students.
“Programmes such as this can foster interest for the public to come to the library.
A library today still plays a very important role in providing services to source for the latest information and its role is still relevant despite the rapid development of technology. Associate Professor Dr Rasidah Mahdi, UiTM Sarawak deputy rector for research and industrial linkage
Students in particular should be made aware of the role of the library as an information storage medium including of physical materials such as books and magazines.
“At the same time, a library also stores materials in the form of electronic resources since it subscribes to several online databases with the main objective of assisting students in their academic development,” Rubiah said.
She pointed out that the role of a library covers a wide scope in terms of providing services and facilities that involve joint management of users.
“A library today is not just a place to borrow or return books but also serves as an IT centre that provides facilities such as computers and WiFi which are among main attractions to visit the library more often.”
Rubiah congratulated UiTM Sarawak for organising the community programme with locals, saying the programme has been beneficial to the community, particularly in providing assistance to those in need.
“Although the UiTM Sarawak library is categorised as an academic library, this does not limit the responsibility of the (university) community to local residents to promote and distribute information to surrounding residents.
“The expertise available in the library plays a role in giving exposure to identifying truthful information,” she said.
She hoped that PTAR will continue to move towards conducting outreach programmes to develop the state with regards to transference of knowledge.
“Let us together strengthen the cooperation and mutual understanding as well as produce innovative and creative ideas to progress because success is not merely for us, but more importantly, for our children and future generations,” she added.
Scheduled activities throughout the three- day programme include exhibitions from various participating agencies such as National AntiDrugs Agency and Malaysia Civil Defence Force, a food sale, a PTAR UiTM Sarawak Logo design competition, a short video competition and The Most Borrowed Library Books award.
Also present were UiTM Sarawak deputy head librarian Norhayati Ismail and students from SMK Muara Tuang and SMK Kota Samarahan.