National libraries will be under urgent renovation

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Culture has instructed the Fine Arts Department to renovate the libraries in suburban areas so they would have adequate services.

Culture Minister Khaisri Sriarun visited the public library in Ubon Ratchathani province and later revealed that the building was in poor condition and there were leakages on the roof. Certain areas of the library were not serviceable and some chronicles were misplaced. In addition, there were only two librarians in the public library.

The Culture Minister also visited five public libraries, and they were equally defective as the public library in Ubon Ratchathani. She said renovation must be done urgently.

Mr. Arak Sanghitakul, the director-general of the Fine Arts Department, said the Fine Arts officials are renovating the public libraries with the financial budget for this year. The money will also be used to recruit more librarians and staff.

--thaisnews.com 2007-02-02

A strong system of libraries is not created by urgent actions but by a concerted long term commitment to the free and unrestrained availablility of information to keep an educated public well informed.

Chownah

What's the point of upgrading the libraries when, for the most part, I hardly ever see Thais reading, or when I do they're reading comic books.

Is this yet another example of an ill-considerd government initiative which will only result in those involved becoming enriched ?

Edited February 3, 200719 yr by sibeymai

any step in this direction has to be applauded. the library system is a joke - from the

university to the public library system. the only library publicly accessible of any

standard of quality was the library in the SET building by Rama 4. for the most

part, the activities was mostly what you would see in libraries worldwide. so it may

be a matter of "build it and they will come" - well at least some of those that get it.

--dan