Pick Up Reading Habit, Locals Urged
By Wani Gapar

Bandar Seri Begawan - Hj Jamaludin bin Hi Md Yassin, Brunei Shell Recreation Club librarian, yesterday lamented Bruneians' lack of reading habit despite the presence of libraries around Brunei Darussalam.

Very few locals are taking advantage of the libraries, he said.

Hj Jamaludin said he did not know why locals do not read much, noting they may have different "habits and interests". Most of the library patrons, he added, "are mainly expatriates working here like Indian and Chinese families, and very few Malays".

He suggested organising storytelling activities to encourage children to read.

Jennifer Uding Emang, a teacher at Saint Angela's School in Seria, said, "We have to tell stories to little children. We have to make them interesting so they can read more, learn more."

The kindergarten teacher echoed the librarian's sentiments when she said that "the most important thing was developing interest".

"These days, not many children read probably because of computer games and TV," she said.

Martha, a Panaga Club librarian, said "Reading is a good thing. It doesn't matter what we read, but it is a skill that needs to be honed." She suggested, "We should have reading incentive programmes for young kids for encouraging them to read".

Brunei's Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka have district libraries in Belait, Tutong and Temburong. They also have a mobile library that makes monthly trips around the country and stops at 57 destinations, including schools that are more than l0km away from a community library.

Unesco Said Brunei Darussalam is the most literate country in Asean based on a 2004 report.--- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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