The Perak State Public Library Corporation (PPANPk) has emphasized the crucial role of parents and professional librarians in fostering reading habits among younger generations. Dr Rafidah Abdul Aziz, director of PPANPk, highlighted that parents should actively bring their children to public libraries to utilize available resources, while also stressing the need for the education system to support this habit.
Dr Rafidah argued that school libraries should be managed by trained librarians instead of teaching staff. She explained that professional librarians possess specialized skills in managing libraries, organizing books, planning activities and programs, and selecting appropriate reading materials for students. According to her, librarians are better equipped to respond to students’ needs, a practice already in place in institutions such as Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) and international schools.
“Teachers already have their own workload, so managing the library effectively can be a challenge,” Dr Rafidah said, adding that relying on teachers to oversee library operations often limits efforts to encourage student engagement. She suggested collaboration between public libraries and schools to help address this issue.
The Perak state library network encompasses branch libraries, digital services, and mobile libraries to serve various communities. The state library building in Jalan Raja DiHilir, Ipoh, reopened in May this year following two years of renovation. The revamped facility now includes a toy library for children, a games room, a café, a video game room, and a gallery known as Galeri Perak Kiter.
With 37,928 registered members and over 2.2 million visitors as of September, PPANPk reports a diverse patronage including elderly residents, housewives, and students. Dr Rafidah noted the surprising number of seniors who use the library as a place to read newspapers.
The corporation seeks to balance traditional printed materials with modern digital resources such as e-books, aiming to meet the community’s growing demand for digital facilities.
Recently, the library hosted a two-day Perak State Public and Digital Library Open Day and Children’s Literature and Arts Festival in Ipoh. The event, officiated by Perak Education Department director Zulkafli Mohamed Mokhtar, was designed to showcase the library’s upgrades. It featured a range of activities, including story-telling and reading competitions, board games, a Lego games corner, a bento Masterchef contest, a flour art workshop, sports competitions, face painting, dancing contests, and keychain beading sessions. The festival attracted 3,605 attendees, underlining the community’s strong interest in library programs and literacy promotion.