Illegal motor park operators have taken over the premises of the Plateau State Library Board (PSLB) which houses the Library in the state.
A visit by our correspondent to the board showed that the rumbustious activities of illegal motor park operators have made the library environment unconducive for reading.
LEADERSHIP reports that the Board is located opposite Plateau Express Service, along Tafawa Balewa Road in Jos the Plateau State capital.
The Plateau State Library Board was established in 1977 by Edict No. 4 of the Plateau State laws, becoming a fully empowered board to develop and provide library services throughout the state.
The visit by our correspondent to the premises revealed a chaotic scene as operators of the illegal parks often blocked the entrance to the library complex to pick passengers and goods.
Bicycle spare parts sellers and foodstuff traders were seen in the premises. Destitutes were also seen loitering around the complex.
What’s more, the library complex was dilapidated with leaking roofs.
A look inside the library revealed an almost empty space as few persons were seen reading in the cubicles. However, it was learnt that there has been poor patronage of the facility for some time.
However, one of the readers, Aminu Danladi, who was reading in one of the cubicles, told our correspondent that lack of contemporary books, lack of furniture, unconducive environment, and the dilapidated complex is responsible for low patronage of the library.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP, the acting chief Librarian Plateau State Library Board (PSLB) Mr. Jamah Haruna, decried the negative impact of illicit motor park operation in the premises.
He also expressed concern over the poor state of the complex.
He said, “As you can see, the complex’s roof is leaking but the little we got as overhead from the state government is being used to fix those areas that have been leaking.
“Some of our challenges include the operators of illegal motor parks in the vicinity of the library which is not healthy. The complex needs renovation and stocking up with up to date books.
“Sometimes, the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) assists us to chase away the operators of this illegal motor park. They flushed them away but they later returned.”
He commended the present administration under the leadership of Barr Caleb Mutfwang for always releasing their overhead cost for the day to day running of the Board.
“We used the overhead cost that the state government released to us to fix a lot of things that were hitherto, not in place. As you can see the number of people coming to the library to read now is encouraging compared to the past,” he added.
He lamented that the reading culture in Nigeria is dying. He blamed the advent of the internet, stressing that people no longer come to the library to read hard copies.
According to him, one thing that they did to encourage people to come to the library was the installation of a router, a free to air internet connectivity by Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC).
“Now people are trooping in to make use of the router which has improved our patronage.”
He appealed to corporate organisations, publishers, and non-governmental organisations and individuals to donate books and computers to the board to encourage the return of the book reading culture.
However, the state commissioner for Information and Communication Rt. Hon Joyce Ramnap, intends to move the Library complex from there because of the motor park.
When contacted on the matter, she admitted it was wrong to have a library and a motor park in the same space.
The commissioner further disclosed that the State Governor Barr. Caleb Mutfwang had stopped over to see the state of the library during his inspection tour of the indoor theater complex.
“The position of the state Government is that the complex will be relocated from there because of the commercial activities that is taking place around the complex which is not conducive for reading and other academic activities,” she said.
