G-10 public library to shift to Sector F-10

[LahoreEstate]

* Official says mobile libraries will be launched in Pindi suburbs

ISLAMABAD: The Education Ministry has planned to shift G-10 Markaz Public Library to F-10 Markaz to meet the needs of booklovers, Education Ministry’s Libraries Department Director General (DG) Muhammad Nazir told APP.

He said the library would have modern facilities and collection of 40,000 books initially. He said his department had set a target of increasing number of books on various subjects at the library up to 100,000.

The proposed library will be designed akin to international standards having resemblance to Chicago Public library, the DG said, adding digital facilities like video and audio databases would also be provided at the library. Nazir said a hall would also be constructed at the library, where social gatherings and literary functions would be organised.

He said the students would have access to the required material, including books, journals, magazines, newspapers and other reading stuff through an online system. He said efforts were underway to compile a huge collection of books on sociology, science, education, history, literature, reigion and other topics in one database, so that those could be made available through an online system

Mobile and mini-libraries: Listing other initiatives to promote book-reading culture in the country, he said the ministry had also planned to launch well-stocked mobile libraries set up in buses in far-flung areas having no public libraries.

Initially, the DG said, the mobile libraries would be run in Rawalpindi and its suburbs. He said the Rawalpindi district coordination officer (DCO) had been asked to identify areas where public libraries had so far not been established.

He said the service of mobile libraries would also be extended to Bhara Kahu and Taramari. He said the ministry and Capital Development Authority (CDA) had jointly planned to set up mini-libraries in the city to quench the thirst of booklovers for knowledge.

The mini libraries will be within the reach of citizens, who can enjoy books on diversified subjects, Nazir said, adding, four mini-libraries had been made functional in sectors G-7, G-8, F-11 and I-8.

He said the CDA provided physical structure for the mini-libraries, while his department hired staffers and arranged study material. He said people could visit the mini-libraries everyday from 10am to 6pm. He said two more mini-libraries would also be set up in sectors I-10 and G-11.

Anti-polio drive: Health Directorate of Capital Development Authority (CDA) will administer anti-polio drops to about 140,000 under-five children during a campaign starting tomorrow (Wednesday).

CDA Senior Director, Health, Dr Saeed Ahmed said earlier the campaign could not be launched on its scheduled day of Monday for one reason or the other. He said the directorate had divided the federal capital into 13 zones and constituted 350 teams comprising 2,000 workers to immunise the children against polio.

The director said zonal in-charges would lead the teams, while a special cell had also been established to monitor the campaign. He said the directorate had also set up 96 fixed centres and 48 transit points to make the campaign a success.

Dr Ahmed appealed to parents to get their children vaccinated at the earliest to save them from polio. app

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...09_pg11_11