Cross River State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu, has revealed that plans are underway to revamp and digitalise the popular State Library in Calabar.
The governor, who made this known, recently, when he visited the dilapidated main library in Calabar, in the company of his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, assured students, researchers and Cross Rivererians at large that his administration would ensure a functional and knowledge-based electronic library that is driven by contemporary information and communication technology (ICT).
“Libraries are important and we will ensure that we have an e-library that is functional, digital, and would serve the needs of students and researchers.
“I am not unaware of the financial constraints we face as a state, but we will look at what is feasible as quickly as possible and work to get the library up and running as libraries as centres of knowledge are pivotal to growth and development,” Otu said.
The Governor maintained that a functional library will help in bringing back the reading culture among students as the library will be ICT-compliant and digital.
Speaking during the inspection of the library complex, the Director, of Cross River State Library Services, Mrs. Eme Awatt, expressed pleasure at the visit of the governor, pointing out that the Library’s management and staff had looked forward to such an opportunity to present the teething issues bedeviling them.
“I am really pleased with this visit by the governor. This is what we have been praying for. There is hope that we could soon have a befitting and functional library with an e-section. We have computers locked up, and hopefully, they are still functional to be put to use.”
Awatt also stated that beyond infrastructural repairs, there is a need to improve the Library’s dwindling manpower to meet the needs of a model library.