The Government had since independence been trying to cultivate the reading habits of Malaysians in a move to produce a more developed country and establishing a knowledge society. I, myself, had been fascinated with the "knowledge bank" since school besides committing myself to be a school library prefect or librarian to enable me to have more access to those reading materials available.
What I had learned from the number of
years serving as a school librarian had thought me much about what is needed to successfully create an ambience for reading and research.Today, Malaysians from all walks of life had benefitted from the library in city, rural including the mobile library which reaches the remote villages.
We have to take our hats off for the grand effort of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad whom had built the National Library (www.pnm.my) along Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur but yet it was later found that the storage space wasn't enough to store the reading materials to cater the various age group which resulted in the books borrowing section for adults being housed in the neighbouring building of Wisma Sejarah.
While we rejoice on the new block which is currently under construction and look forward to many more years of using the facility to benefit the many future generations, the ugly side of Malaysians eating habits and culture prevailed along the corridor of the Kids section
How the management allowed the many vendors playing their trade of food stuff, accessories, cakes, snacks etc. is left much to be desired. The smell generated from the pickles can be nauseating for those not used to it and again the building maintenance is another sad proof of bad management.
The toilets aren't equally clean either and the facilities could be better maintained.
It is not too certain if the ugly side of Malaysian obesity culture is being promoted in the vicinity of the National Library while turning it into a bazaar.
Occassional food chomping and mobile phone rings can be seen/heard during the number of visits I make to the library. Is this allowed in libraries? Have the control aspects been negelected to create a conducive ambience for everyone to enjoy the facilities there?
Will this resource centre which had served thousands of Malaysians be another victim of a 3rd class building maintenance which would eventually cost the tax payers money to refurbish and inconvenience to the many users?
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