BAGAN DATUK: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said all public libraries will be digitalised in stages beginning this year, in line with present development in technology.
The deputy prime minister said he would help get the proper allocation from the federal government for the National Library to help digitalise all public libraries.
“The process of getting information should not only be done via formal education in schols but also places outside school, especially in libraries.
“We should not deny the people avenues to get information, so the digitalisation of libraries is a good move which needs to be done by the National Library,” he said at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Bagan Datuk Digital Library project in Dewan Arena Waterfront Bagan Datuk.
Also present were Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah and National Library director-general Datuk Nafisah Ahmad.
Zahid urged private corporations, government-linked companies and government-linked investment companies to aid the National Library by “acopting” public libraries as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.
“I hope that Datuk Seri Nazri can help by getting these companies tax exemptions (for adopting public libraries). I will try to help get these exemptions for them as well... in fact, society as a whole should be involved in the digitalisation of public libraries, but corporations can be the biggest help by taking it on as part of their CSR programme,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nazri said the Bagan Datuk Digital Library project was an initiative of his ministry, adding that it would be the first fully-digital public library in the country.
He said the government had allocated RM5.4 million for the project, which he said would be completed by next year.