AYV News May 24, 2023

The Sierra Leone Book Trust (SALBOT) in Partnership with Books for Africa, U S Department of Defense Humanitarian Assistance Program, Better World Trust, MSD and Professor Dick Simpson has received 5 40feet containers, containing 197,000 relevant and brand-new books to support literacy and education in Sierra Leone.

In a short ceremony at SALBOT’s warehouse in Goderich, the Executive Director, Sierra Leone Book Trust, Sallieu Turay stressed that Books are the most important tool for knowledge and education and with the provision of books by partners it will surely boost the flagship programme of the government of free quality education in Sierra Leone.

He disclosed that 1 40 feet container with 41,000 books has been donated to the Sierra Leone Library Board for distribution to twenty-five government libraries in Sierra Leone.

He noted Libraries are essential to our communities, as they provide access to wealth of information and knowledge and it is a place where anyone can learn, discover and develop, regardless of age, education, or income.

He emphasised that these books will certainly improve access to relevant and up-to-date books and educational resources for students in various educational institutions, help inculcate the habit of reading, develop positive thinking, boost imagination and creativity in the various learning institutions.

He said they are set to distribute the rest of the books to various learning institutions in the country, noting that the books are well selected to meet the country’s curriculum.

Acting Chief Librarian, Musa Bala Mansaray thanked the Sierra Leone Book Trust for boosting the collection of books in the Sierra Leone Library Board.

He assured the Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Book Trust that the Books will be processed and distributed to all the twenty-five libraries in the country and called on the readers and all to always visit the library to build their knowledge.

He said the library is a gateway to knowledge and culture; libraries play a fundamental role in society, as they offer and create opportunities for learning, support literacy and education, and help shape the new ideas and perspectives that are central to a creative and innovative society.

He added that the library help ensure an authentic record of knowledge created and accumulated by past generations as a world without libraries, it would be difficult to advance research and human knowledge or preserve the world’s cumulative knowledge and heritage for future generations.