NGO: More Public Libraries Needed

Khmer Times/Va Sonyka

Wednesday, 09 September 2015

PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times) – Reading has always been a popular hobby for Cambodian children, but NGOs are now saying it is difficult for children in remote areas to access books and magazines. 

Sipar, an organization fighting illiteracy in the Kingdom, said Cambodians were always very active readers. But the civil war changed everything about society. 

“As we know, Cambodia had the civil war in 1975 that resulted in all of the libraries being destroyed, books were thrown away, and 80 percent of the writers and teachers were killed,” said Hok Sothik, the executive-director of Sipar.

He said that the civil war changed how Cambodians view reading, and lamented the fact that many Cambodians now view the activity as a ‘foreigner habit’. “A lack of reading habitually is the result of weak knowledge and it makes it harder for people to improve themselves to challenge other countries,” he said. 

Sipar has partnered with the Education Ministry for 23 years to improve education and literacy in the country. 

It has helped build libraries and pushed the government to build more public libraries. 

“We have printed books and established libraries in many places, like in communities, prisons, hospitals and now we are preparing a new project that establishes libraries in factories,” said Mr. Sothik. 

Mobile Library

Mr. Sothik, however, said that despite their efforts, most people did not have access to reading materials because the few public libraries available are far from many communities and are limited in what they have to offer. 

“One problem in Cambodia is we have fewer public libraries. The countries that are improving their reading changed because they have a lot of public libraries,” said Mr. Sothik, adding that there should be at least one per commune. 

Despite the long distances between libraries, Sipar is starting a mobile library project as well as a reading campaign to encourage youth to read more. 

Drop Everything And Read

Drop Everything And Read, (D.E.A.R.), a club at Pannasastra University, was established by a group of volunteer students aiming to cultivate a culture of reading and to promote academic success. 

Kim Norith, president of D.E.A.R, said the club had assisted students in absorbing the benefits of reading and inspiring a love of reading in the hearts of all people.  

“Reading is the most beneficial way for everyone to boost thinking capacity as well as transfer emotions and feeling,” he said, adding that by being exposed to reading, people will be able to improve their speaking and writing skills. 

“When reading, children will absorb most of the language that they will use in the future, which is an encouragement for them to participate actively in their learning. In addition, it is a wonderful method for introducing children and people to the brilliant world of books,” he said.