Plea to use libraries to modernise teaching

Library and teaching staff at government schools in Sharjah have been asked to use their libraries to modernise and develop teaching.

The request was made by Sheikha Aisha bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Deputy Director of Sharjah Educational Zone, while announcing a two-day symposium entitled 'School Libraries and Horizons of Developing and Modernising Education'.

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, will open the symposium next Monday at the Theatric Art Institute in Sharjah.

Sheikha Aisha pointed out that Dr Sheikh Sultan has established 122 modern libraries at Sharjah and the Eastern Zone schools.

The libraries, which have become functional, will also serve as resource rooms. Each library is provided with computers and printers, a video, television and recorder sets, a projector, slide projectors, screen, CD sets and background picture projector, she said.

The symposium is aimed at giving library staff a sufficient 'dose' of knowledge to help them make the best use of the modern libraries, she said.

"The libraries are not a complementary facility or a decorative place in the school. They should be used as a main source for modernising education," she stressed.

Sheikha Aisha called on the ministry to supply schools with the needed numbers of library staff to help them function at their best.

"Many schools in Sharjah and the Eastern Zone are functioning without librarians. Teaching staff are assigned to teach and run the libraries," she said.

Sharjah needs at least 27 librarians, she said, and the East Zone 31. "Only five librarians were appointed in Sharjah schools for boys while the needed number is 27," she said, citing an example.

The zone has asked each government school to nominate their librarians and two teachers to attend the symposium.

The symposium will deal with areas that include the status of school libraries and the effective role of libraries in developing self-teaching skills, summarisation skills, and research and reading techniques.

The participants will also discuss the effective role of the school library for elementary level pupils, and libraries and research in education.

Nine papers will be submitted to the symposium.

Library scientists, educationists and researchers from UAE University, University of Sharjah, the Ministry of Education and Youth and Sharjah Educational Zone will deliver lectures and discuss the papers, said Sheikha Aisha. A list of recommendations is likely to be issued at the end of the event.