NCCAL plans to revive public libraries after the ‘takeover’
Council eyes to equipping libraries with latest technology
KUWAIT CITY, April 1, (KUNA): The role of public libraries dwindled away in the recent years due to several reasons, notably the spread of the information and communications technology and the tendency for scholars and readers to use the internet.
Out of keenness on reviving this role, the Cabinet has recently decided transfer the jurisdiction over libraries and their staffers, facilities, equipment and books, from the Ministry of Education to the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL).
The decision, took effect as of Friday, April 1, is the sixth in a chain of transfers of the management of the library sector between the two sides over the last 35 years; it came in response to a request from the Ministry.
Speaking to KUNA, NCCAL’s Assistant Undersecretary for the Sector of Culture and Arts Mohammad Al-As’ousi, said the decision makers are convinced that the Council is competent enough to take charge of the libraries sector since it is responsible for the cultural activities on the national level.
“The Council has stepped up efforts and set out plans for modernizing the libraries and equipping them with the latest technologies,” he said.
“The NCCAL plans for encouraging the public to read include creating interactive atmospheres between the administrators of a library and its frequenters through leveraging the relevant technologies.
“Libraries are no longer warehouses for books; they are rather platforms and think tanks for readers and researchers to network and get in an easy, fast and credible way whatever knowledge they need,” Al-As’ousi pointed out.
Despite the technological revolution, many people find traditional books appealing as a credible source of information, he said, citing as evidence the data of sales at the book fairs.
The first public library was founded in Kuwait in 1913 as a privately-owned one, while the first state-owned public library was founded in 1936 with 289 books on display.