Teachers: Update libraries to attract students
The reading culture has been waning among Malaysian students, with fewer students visiting school libraries, and even fewer borrowing books.
Although the Internet-savvy generation prefers to engage with digital content, teachers said many students today considered reading a chore or something one must do to complete assignments, rather than as a hobby.
Azmatun Semaun, a Guru Cemerlang at SMK Sultan Abu Bakar in Kuantan, Pahang, said schools should get creative and refurbish their libraries with more exciting and contemporary themes.
“Students tend to think of libraries as boring spaces for bookworms. So, we need to restyle our libraries to be more casual and engaging.
“For instance, we can introduce library cafes in schools to encourage students to read.
“We should have small reading corners, near staircases or beside the school canteen, instead of having all the books stacked only in libraries.
“Another major change should be on the type of books that our libraries offer.
“The current generation of students prefer more visual content than heavily-worded pages.
“So, we need to equip our school libraries with relevant books, and not coerce them to engage with the ones that are already available,” she told the New Straits Times.
Mohammad Hazeem Azemi, who teaches at SMK Kuala Krau, Pahang, said schools should set up digital libraries with e-books from genres that pique students’ interest.
Digital libraries, he said, would bode well with the current generation, who prefered to explore the world through digital devices.
“In the last two years, students have grown accustomed to digital devices due to home-based teaching and learning.
“They are less interested in physical books — in fact, in almost anything that does not include smart devices.
“Teachers, therefore, must keep up with this changing trend. I strongly feel that having digital libraries that provide more interactive learning is the best way forward.
“We can still conduct campaigns and organise competitions, such as creative writing, storytelling and quiz contests to cultivate reading.
“Nevertheless, we must give books a makeover through technology to attract students.”