Better library facilities needed to create reading culture — UMS vice chancellor

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KOTA KINABALU: Well-planned academic publication and systematic library facilities should be created to create a reading culture among lecturers and students, said Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) vice chancellor Brig Jen Prof Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Kamaruzaman Ampon.Kamaruzaman pointed out that the publishing and book industry should be looked upon seriously as it can mould the minds of a society.

He said although book publishers are facing issues such as royalty, market and reading level, they are still working towards setting up a sound base for themselves.

“The reading culture in our country is still at an unsatisfactory level while the market for book industry is still not encouraging,” he said when officiating at the closing ceremony of UMS Academic Books Festival Exhibition and Sale 2010 here yesterday.

Eight public higher learning institutes (IPTA) and government agencies, as well as 11 book distributors took part in the book exhibition from April 5-9.

Advisor of the book festival, Dayang Rukiah Awang Amit, said the aim of the festival was to promote books published by universities and other publishers.

“In addition, the exhibition is also to support the academic development effort in the university.”

She added a book exhibition is a marketing strategy that is effective to bring profit to the university in addition to spreading knowledge and research of a higher learning centre.

Also present were UMS registrar Abdullah Mohd Said, UMS Publishing Unit chief Prof Dr Zainodin Jobok, organising chairperson of Academic Books Festival, Anna Michael.