EVER READY TO SERVE: Habsah (fourth right) and her team give the thumbs-up to the library.
MAKING GOOD USE OF FACILITY: Children revising and reading at the library.
CARDS READY FOR COLLECTION: A library personnel with new membership cards yet to be collected.
PLENTY TO CHOOSE FROM: Children are spoilt for choice with a wide range of reading materials.
START THEM YOUNG: A mother enjoying reading with her child at the library.
CAN I HELP YOU?: A parent makes an enquiry at the new membership counter.
SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council Library at Keranji Road here received 406,622 visitors this year from January till November.
Librarian Habsah Johor said the library had about 55,000 registered members.
“Of the number, about 34,000 are adults.
“And until November this year, we recorded 1,193 new members, where adults made up 733 and juniors, 460.
“The total new members recorded for the whole of last year was 1,511,” she said.
The total number of books loaned out between January and November this year was 252,402.
“Last year, the books lent out amounted to 319, 637.” Presently, the library has about 300,000 books.
On the mini book exhibition from Nov 25 till Dec 2, Habsah said some 3,000 new books were put on display for reading.
“This was part of the initiative to entice more people to the library.
“During that period, we gave souvenirs to newly registered members,” she related.
There were also activities to encourage reading among school children.
“At times, there were educational visits to the library where students were introduced to the organisation and management of the library,” she pointed out.
The council has a mini library each in Grand Heights and Sukun Road, but books there are not on loan.