The essence of community libraries as a vital tool for community empowerment By Lukabwe Fred K. Consultant, Enhance Abilities Initiative Chairperson, National Adult Education Association Of Uganda [NAEA]

Introduction The community Library is the local centre of information which is located in an accessible place for everyone who has the ability to read and write can reach. This library is put in place, organized and maintained by the community members themselves. It is a personal reflection and empowerment making all kinds of knowledge and information readily available to its users.

Introduction cont The services of the community library are provided on the basis of equality of access for all, regardless of age, race, sex, religion, nationality, language or social status. Specific services and materials must be provided for those who cannot, for whatever reason, use the regular services and materials, for example linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, the older persons, children in non formal education or people in hospital or prison.

Inti; cont Such libraries should ensure that all age groups must find material relevant to their needs. Collections and services have to include all types of appropriate media and modern technologies as well as traditional materials. High quality and relevance to local needs and conditions are fundamental. Material must reflect current trends and the evolution of society, as well as the memory of human endeavor and imagination.

Int; cont Collections and services should not be subject to any form of ideological, political or religious censorship, nor commercial pressure.

values Freedom, Prosperity and the Development of society and individuals are fundamental human values. They will only be attained through the ability of well-informed citizens to exercise their democratic rights and to play an active role in society. Constructive participation and the development of democracy depend on satisfactory education as well as on free and unlimited access to knowledge, thought, culture and information.

People’s views The public library can also be looked at as a local gateway to knowledge, provides a basic condition for lifelong learning, independent decision-making and cultural development of the individual and social groups.

Importance of Community Libraries creating and strengthening reading habits in children at an early age; supporting both individual and self conducted education as well as formal education at all levels; providing opportunities for personal creative development; Gaining accuracy in reading silently and loudly. stimulating the imagination and creativity of children and young people;

Importance cont promoting awareness of cultural heritage, appreciation of the arts, scientific achievements and innovations; providing access to cultural expressions of all performing arts; fostering inter-cultural dialogue and favoring cultural diversity; supporting the oral tradition; ensuring access for citizens to all sorts of community information;

Libraries support in communicating messages Library attendance serves as a springboard for parents to communicate messages about the expectations that they had for their children as readers. As institutions, libraries support literacy events that tie to the larger cultural practices of coming together as part of a community.

The library facility as a gathering place for values This includes the phenomenon known as the "living room" experience, meeting and conference rooms available, all-inclusive, safe and friendly environment, and a unique forum for social networking, book clubs and reading groups. At village, parish and sub county levels, such libraries can be started through mutual understanding of the responsible parents, youth and the local leaders by contributing space, furniture and the needed books.

Community libraries for cultural development the search for relevant information and its subsequent use in productive activity may be an integral characteristic of the construction of contemporary public culture in the emergent twenty-first century. If this is true, the community library is then a key site of both cultural consumption and production and a facilitator of civil society in a way that other public places are not.

Conclusion I therefore conclude this address by urging the manager and proprietors of community libraries to equip them with relevant materials which can serve people from all walks of life as an important tool for personal and group empowerment.

The end Thank you