Apart from a large collection of books, journals and newspapers available for reading in some modern libraries, there are electronic learning materials such as audio and audio-visual materials including films, music and lectures of world leaders.
Like other educational institutions, the Government Teachers' Training College in Dhaka, which was established in 1909, has a library with some rare books. It is one of the reputed colleges in Bangladesh. The teachers of the college are highly qualified with education and training both at home and abroad. They teach B.Ed (Hons), M.Ed and one-year B.Ed courses successfully.
In order to supplement the teachers' lectures, students borrow books from the college library and they read study materials in the reading room attached to the library. The library has a fairly good number of course books, novels, magazines and reference books. Students use the library at the time of their off-period and in the afternoon. But it is a matter of regret that when the college closes, the library also follows suit. As a result students cannot use the library after 5:00 pm.
The college has two hostels for B.Ed (Hons), B.Ed and M.Ed students and trainees. One of the two hostels is for the male students and the other for females. Students who stay in the hostels badly feel the need of a library, which should be open for use any time they like. If there is a library in the college hostel, they will be able to use the library even at night. This scribe came to know from a reliable source that there was a library in the college hostel in the past, but it is not known why it was closed. The reason could be the want of sufficient fund or something else. Whatever it is, it should not have been closed. A library attached to the hostel can always benefit the boarders.
Probably money is not a problem, because students are charged a handsome amount of money every year to maintain the expenditure of the hostels. Besides, students will not, probably, be unwilling to contribute for establishment of a library in their hostels. Some of the expenditure can be minimised by appointing librarians from among the boarders. They can give voluntary service by turns. The Ministry of Education also can give a lump-sum amount to the hostels for setting up a library with the facilities of modern information and communication technology or can order the college authority to set up libraries in the hostels.
The college principal should think about setting up libraries in the hostels again. One or two rooms of the hostels can be used as a library and some useful books, magazines, research journals, daily newspapers and some computers can be made available there for students' use.
The writer is a first-year honours student at Govt. Teachers' Training College, Dhaka.
Email: kabir143soz@gmail.com
