Izah Azahari
Librarians must explore the latest technology to promote library services in this era, Politeknik Brunei Chief Library Officer Abdul Muiz bin Ahmad Hussin said.
“This includes making full use of the opac system, by integrating the QR code system to make it easier for users to access the library catalogue on the go. This will increase users’ interest in reading and studying,” he said.
He said this during the third Reciprocal Borrowing Scheme (RBS) Roadshow held at PB at Jalan Ong Sum Ping recently.
Abdul Muiz launched the event in the presence of library officers and librarians from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB), Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE), Language and Literature Bureau, and PB students.
The RBS was introduced on March 15, 2017 to enable users from the institution to borrow reading material for free between the 12 higher education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions libraries participating in the scheme.
This is in accordance with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s titah in conjunction with the 1st National Development Plan Executive Committee Meeting on September 21, 2020, emphasising the sharing of facilities and the ‘Whole-of-Government’ approach to avoid wastage and ensure the efficient use of government resources.
Through the RBS, libraries from higher education and TVET institutions have taken a positive step in realising the hopes of His Majesty in emphasising resource sharing and avoiding waste.
The workshop aimed to introduce reading material reference centres from higher learning and TVET academic libraries, to increase RBS membership among institutions of higher learning, to increase the borrowing and use of academic reading material for learning and teaching purposes between institutions of higher learning and TVET, to encourage the efficient use of government facilities and resources, to foster the spirit of ‘Independent Research’ among students through the exploration of reading materials in institutions of higher learning and other TVETs, as well as to foster an interest in reading, alongside applying information literacy skills that students need to be competitive in the 21st Century.