COUNCILLORS have called on the authorities to set up a public library in Hamad Town.
A library was a part of the original map for the housing town established in 1984 ... but the project never saw the light of the day.
Housing and Urban Planning Minister Amna Al Romaihi confirmed in writing to the Northern Municipal Council that a public library continues to be listed amongst projects in Hamad Town block 1206.
“We have no objections against having a library but the council will have to liaise with the Survey and Land Registration Bureau to check on the plot’s ownership,” said the minister.
“The council will also need approvals from the Education, and Finance and National Economy Ministries amongst other service departments.”
Bahrain currently has eight public libraries, mostly built in the 1970s, with no new facility built since the mid-1980s. The libraries are in Manama, Muharraq, Hidd, Arad, Riffa, Jidhafs, Sitra and Sanabis.
Hamad Town is divided into four Northern Governorate constituencies: eight (north), nine (west), 10 (east) and 11 (south).
The council’s technical committee chairman and constituency nine councillor Abdulla Al Qobaisi said a third generation of those who were alloted homes in the area almost 38 years ago were now living in Hamad Town ... and their demands for a well-equipped library haven’t been met yet.
“I wonder if the government is waiting for the sixth generation of residents before launching a public library in the area,” he said.
“It doesn’t take 38 years to carry out such a vital project, especially in a country that is proud of its literacy and educational achievements.”
Mr Al Qobaisi said a new library would be an asset for residents of the area by aiding in the educational and technological growth of the present and the future generations.
“The facility shouldn’t be a conventional one, it could have modernised electronic books, archiving and even automated and robotic services alongside normal paper books, journals and documents. Having no library at all is unacceptable.”
Council chairman Dr Sayed Shubbar Al Wedaie, meanwhile, questioned if Mr Al Qobaisi was interested in reading or if he had entered a library ever.
Mr Al Qobaisi retorted that he was a regular visitor to the Isa Town Library when he lived in the area years ago.
“Whether I like reading or not, I had to do research for school essays, projects and presentations,” he replied.
“Despite the emergence of new technologies, there is something unique about libraries ... it is a feeling that is ineffable.”
The former Muharraq Municipal Council had made a call in June last year to modernise public libraries in the area and offer book lovers with the latest facilities.
Muharraq Municipal Council services and public utilities committee chairman Ahmed Al Meghawi, who was re-elected a few months later for a second term, was spearheading the move alongside three other colleagues. He continues to believe the nation’s thousands of books should be digitalised to ease research and allow people to access them electronically.
“A clean and organised library attracts people,” Mr Al Meghawi had said, as reported earlier in the GDN.
“Unfortunately, this is not the case here. This is not to say that the Education Ministry is not doing a good job of getting books, but they are not seen as irreplaceable valuable assets,” he added.
“Just visit any library and one will realise that the facilities are not up to the standards with cracked walls, shelves and even some rare books having torn pages.
“Despite being a storehouse of knowledge, these public libraries have over the years lost their appeal.”
The councillor said the libraries should be revamped in tune with the modern times and to appeal to the younger generation.
“Someone should be able to walk into a library, drink coffee or tea while researching a digitalised copy without being afraid that the one available could be stolen or damaged in the process.
“There should be a proper tracking system and cameras to check on activities at the facility.
“I believe several books in our public libraries have been lost because they have been taken out and never returned.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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