BCC upgrades library management system

BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) has embarked on a digitisation programme as part of aligning its libraries with modern global trends.

This emerged during a handover of 1 000 books by the Anglo-American and Book Aid last Wednesday.

BCC assistant director for housing and community services, Mrs Linda Sibindi, said the local authority started the digitisation project last year.

“Since last year, the council has been working on the library management system for the librarians to be able to access the books readers require fast online. Instead of going into the cardboard to look for a book, one will now do it online which is more efficient,” he said.

“Council is working to make sure that all libraries have access to this library management system.”

Ms Christine James, who was the guest of honour, said the library is a hub where true emancipation of the mind is extracted hence the need to continue investing in that area.

“A library is an environment that gives you time for yourself to gain knowledge, to discover things, to learn and to enjoy because it consists of fictional and non-fictional sources,” said Ms James.

She also said the donation of the hard copies to the library was in response to challenges faced by learners in terms of accessing material.

Senior librarian for Bulawayo Municipal Libraries, Mrs Antonette Madziva, said libraries are relevant for learning and reflecting on academia.

“Whether you are a pre-school learner or an adult, whether you are studying for academic purposes or leisure, the library is a proper place to be. Way back in 1973, the library had to cater to the then illiterate population, after the Universal Declaration of Education,” she said.

“It was necessary that Africans should also be able to read. That same push and inspiration has produced the highly educated people in Zimbabwe.”