LACK OF REGULATORY BODY LESSENS LIBRARY SERVICES

By Frank Kauteka Tembo

Malawi Library Association (MALA) says lack of regulatory body and professionals in Library and Information Science lessens quality library services in the country.

In an exclusive interview, MALA President Fiskani Ngwira told Voice of Kanyawazi that poor library services in the country are due to lack of regulatory body and professionals in library and Information Sciences.

"The main reason why the country has poor library services is that the country has no library regulatory body that could monitor all libraries so that they follow right procedures and standards in their day to day operations.

“The another reason is that books, journals, computer among other library and Information Science equipments are purchased abroad, with the economic hardships the country is facing it has been a challenge for libraries to purchasing these resources as a results our libraries offer poor services," he said.

Ngwira added that with lack of regulatory body the country has no career structures that all libraries could follow a development that also diminish quality library and Information Science services.

However, he said there is hop that all these problems will be history as the Association will soon be registered to assist in improving library and Information Science.

"The good news now is that MALA registration will be finalized soon, currently our [MALA] lawyer who is processing the registration says the registration will complete soon.

"We have also found the Board of Trustees which is assisting the Association in different ways and we hop soon things will be better in the country's libraries." Ngwira said.

Ngwira said the delay of Association's registration was due to lack of professionals that would work with the Association and government reluctance.

He said with the introduction of Library and Information Science degree program at Mzuzu University (MZUNI) the country now will have enough librarians who will work with MALA and libraries across the country.

He appealed to all libraries in the country to recruit these Library and Information Science graduates rather than people with certificates who are currently working in most libraries.

Malawi Library Association was found in 1976 by Harrison Ken of United Kingdom and was inaugurated in 1977.