SEBUYAU: Residents of Kampung Sampat Sebangan can now enjoy access to reading materials with the recently launched mini library in the village.
Sebuyau assemblyman Datuk Julaihi Narawi said the construction of the library is one of the projects under the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) in his area.
“The library was also built at a cost of RM250,000,” he told reporters after the launching ceremony of the mini library at Kampung Sampat Sebangan here today.
He added that it was built in Kampung Sampat due to its strategic location and can be accessed by primary and secondary school students.
“If the location is far away, it is quite difficult for them to visit the library.
“However, I also suggest that this library is not only used by students in Kampung Sampat, but also students from the surrounding area,” said Julaihi.
He explained hat the establishment of the library was also because they wanted students in rural areas to have access to reading materials.
“What’s important is the collection of books that are comprehensive in nature either in English or Bahasa Melayu and we also take into account the needs of children in primary schools because they must be guided at an early age.
“Besides, we also need to expose these children to the reading materials needed so that they can add to their knowledge,” he explained.
Julaihi who is also the Assistant Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development also said that apart from the libraries in schools, the residents in the area have libraries in Pekan Sebangan and Simunjan under the supervision of the Simunjan District Council.
“However, for the village level, the Kampung Sampat Sebangan’s mini library is the first library we have built,” he added.
According to Julaihi, the Kuching Rotary Club together with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have assisted in stocking the library through the donations of used books and computers.
“In this regard, I also hope that the Kuching Rotary Club would help provide books continuously to us in the future so that we can have a comprehensive collection of books,” he explained.
Meanwhile the president of the Rotary Club of Kuching Mona Abdul Manap said, there are 500 genres of books — a mixture of Bahasa Melayu and English for children and adults, available at the mini library.
“Besides that, the Kampung Sampat Mini Library is also equipped with two computers donated by Swinburne University of Technology,” he said.
