CULTIVATING KNOWLEDGE: Kadim (third left) accompanied by Fadzil (second left) checking out the book exhibition at the seminar.
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Libraries see a paradigm shift from efforts to cultivate the reading habit to becoming a hub of educated minds in reaching developed nation status.
Towards that effort, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik organised a ‘Seminar Kepustakawanan’ as a platform to share new perspectives in the world of literature and librarianship.
Unimas vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi said the effort was consistent with the transformation agenda of the government to improve the image of public service, in addition to driving the country to become an educated and developed nation.
“Libraries need society as their regular customers who will utilise the various services and facilities while people need to be updated in information.
“Therefore, the library’s role in establishing a knowledgeable culture is needed so the goal of transforming libraries in the direction of acculturation of knowledge can be achieved,” he said.
He said this at the ‘Seminar Kepustakawanan’ that was attended by 80 participants at the Unimas Auditorium yesterday.
He added that as the pulse and machinery of a university or organisation, libraries play an important role in supporting education, learning and research.
Regarding the objectives of the seminar, Kadim said it was a platform to discuss the roles of libraries and information management in a paradigm shift through new ideas and knowledge.
“Apart from that, it encourages the sharing of smart and sustainable information in institutions related to empowering libraries,” he added.
In the two-day seminar that started yesterday, as many as nine works were presented by professionals from various institutions.
Also present was Unimas deputy vice-chancellor (Students and Alumni Relations) Prof Mohd Fadzil Abdul Rahman, Unimas head librarian Margaret Simeng and other guests.
