Bolgatanga, July 14, GNA - Government has been urged to resource libraries in the country and engage professional librarians to man them to make the implementation of the new educational reform a success. Mrs Francisca Ateere, Director of Basic Education in charge of the Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East Region, made the call when she addressed the International Book Celebration Day held at the weekend. The International Book Day is organized yearly to remember the birthday of Mr Christian Anderson, a famous children's literature Writer which falls on 2nd April.

Mrs Ateere expressed worry about the state of most of the regional and community libraries and observed that the Upper East Regional Library lacked the requisite books.

She said most of the community libraries did not have enough books to meet the needs of the community and that it was difficult for people to commute to the regional library to read.

Mrs Ateere said the libraries lacked qualified librarians, which seriously affected their effective operation.

She emphasized that for the educational reforms to succeed, there was the need for the government to give priority to the development of libraries, engage qualified librarians and offer them better conditions of services to retain them to make the libraries serve the purpose for which they were established.

She said teachers played vital roles in molding children to improve their reading habit and that there was the need to train the teachers in librarianship.

Mrs Ateere appealed to the Ghana Library Board to collaborate with the GES to train teachers on the subject and the district and municipal assemblies, non governmental organizations and philanthropists to support the libraries in their communities.

The Regional Librarian, Mr John Ayeseya reiterated the need for parents to inculcate the habit of reading in their children by patronizing the libraries.

He said the library was a centre that helped in the acquisition of knowledge and an effective means to curb cyber fraud among children. The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Epsona Ayamga, who was the guest of honour, appealed to pupils to cultivate the habit of reading to improve on the level of education in the municipality.

He assured the management of the regional library that the municipal assembly would assist the library to find solution to some of its problems.

Dr Michael Anasara Awaah, a lecturer based in the United State of America and a native of the region, donated various books including science and engineering to the library.