Four-point objectives set to develop libraries in Myanmar

The Myanmar Libraries Development Cooperation Committee organized its coordination meeting in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
Speaking at the event, Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn, who is also chairman of the committee, said the State Administration Council Chairman is making efforts to accelerate the reading rate and develop the libraries holding the ceremonies to donate books and publications to libraries at the National Library in Nay Pyi Taw and regions/states simultaneously on 10 April, and the events received over K1,000 million and 85,540 books and publications.
The Myanmar Libraries Development Cooperation Committee was organized on 22 April, aiming to carry out the systematic use of cash donations, books, and publications and implement the Prime Minister’s policy.
There are 6,106 ward and village libraries that conform to five standards across the nation, but now there are only 3,508 libraries, whereas 2,598 have been suspended.
He added that there is a four-point objectives for spending cash donations, books, and publications effectively. They are to reopen the suspended libraries, establish new libraries, conduct activities to accelerate the public reading rate and distribute the books and publications.
He also said that the Prime Minister in his speech at the book donation ceremonies held on 3 and 10 April called on the officials, parents, and teachers to make efforts to emerge the youths with five strengths, promote the characteristics of libraries, urge readable people to read and conduct awareness campaigns as about 70 per cent of the population is rural people, and establish libraries across the nation as the country has 330 townships, 471 towns, totalling 801, 3,485 wards, 23,910 village-tracts and 63,210 villages, and the key role of libraries that can earn literary knowledge to solve the daily challenges.
Deputy Minister U Ye Tint, vice-chairman of the committee, then clarified the library development activities. Committee members discussed the conditions of national libraries in Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon, regional and state libraries, construction of new libraries, reopening of suspended libraries, upgrade work into e-library and library development programmes to be conducted in the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
The Union minister concluded the meeting after hearing the presentations given by the attendees. — MNA/KTZH