FACULTY OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

MERBOK,KEDAH

Bachelor of Information Science (Hons) (Library Management)

(IM 244)

Library and Information Center Management

(IML 454)

Individual Assignment:
The issues and challenges of Rural Libraries in Malaysian

Prepared for:
Sir Raja Alwi Bin Raja Omar

Prepared by:
Nur Syakira Binti Muhamad Shabuddin
2022779947

Class:KIM244

Submission date:17 November 2022

 Preface

The issues and challenges of Rural Libraries in Malaysian were the topic that
need to emphasized by people especially the students of Library and information
science.This individual assignment given by Sir Raja Alwi Bin Raja Omar. This
assignment make me realize the issues that have faced by rural libraries and the
solution also provided in this assignment.

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 Acknowledgement
I would like to thank to my lecturer,Sir Raja Alwi Bin Raja Omar for guiding me
and classmate to finish this assignment.He explained detail about the flow including
with the example or sample of assignment in face to face class and i’ve saw and heard
clearly about it.He also answering clearly question given by us regarding this
assignment in class and also via whatsapp.

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Table of Content
TOPIC PAGES
Preface i
Acknowledgment ii
Table of Content iii
Table of Figure iv
1.0 Introduction 1
2.0 The challenges of Rural Libraries
2.1 Building is small 2
2.2 Lack of computer and facilities 2
2.3 Operation duration not suitable 3
2.4 Teenagers not interested 3
2.5 Content not relevant 3-4
2.6 Language Barriers 4
2.7 Lack of promotion 4

3.0 The solutions and recommendations

3.1 Government must provide more information technology 4-5

3.2 Provide more collection 5

3.3 Provide many table and chair 5

3.4 Change the operation time 6

3.5 Promote the rural library in better way 6

3.0 Conclusion 7
References 8

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Table of Figure
Figure pages
Figure 1: Desa Chendereh Library 1
Figure 2: Perbadanan Labuan Library
Figure 3: DTunjung village rural library 2

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1.0 Introduction
Libraries are places where many books, manuscripts, journals, and important
sources of recorded information are collected. Also called a building, room, or
organization, it also contains tools and artwork from which books can be borrowed and
returned by librarians within designated times. (Norshila,2012). Libraries with
computers for patrons facilitate the search for information with the help of internet
access and electronic libraries.

The Traditional library exist before the digital library in 21st century. In Malaysia, Rural
Libraries are subordinate to the National Library of Malaysia (NLM) and State
Governments. Rural libraries were first introduced in 2000 with a total of 25 rural
libraries established in seven states (Selangor, Sarawak, Johor, Kedah, Pulau Pinang,
Pahang, and Negeri Sembilan). The cost to build all these libraries exceeded 1.2
million ringgit (equivalent to $400,000).

The rural public is functions in spreading the reading habit among village people.
Sabah and Sarawak have 339 total of the public library,219 total rural libraries in
southern areas,216 total in northen areas,191 total in east areas, and 149 total in
central areas.Government has build 1,114 rural libraries in the Country to spreading
the reading habit among village people. But there are certain challenges that rural
library has to face.(Norshila 2012)

Figure 1:Desa Chendereh Library Figure 2:Perbadanan Labuan Library

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2.0 The Challenges of rural libraries

2.1 Building is small

Building of Rural Library in Malaysia majority were small for example In

Kelantan, Pangkal Gong Rural Library is small.When many students want to make a
study group at there but if the other student also many at the same time and there has
no space to the students in making a group study.Building is small,the books at there
not many like another library and the space to parking the transport also small.Another
rural library like Desa Chendereh Labuan Library is also small and the lacking of
Books for children.The building size is important too cause when at the time,many
customers need to read or borrowing book that makes the crowded people in there.

2.2 Lack of computer and facilities

The Computer is one of the information technology that must have in any library
but in rural libraries with small building lack of Computer,for example,Pangkal Gong
Rural Library just have one computer and in DTunjung village rural library has the two
computer.The student who need to use computer must wait for other people in use
it.After this situation,the student might not going again to rural library and choosing
another library like academic library that have a many information communication
technology.Another facilities which is the table and chair not many in
there.Eventhough the building is small,at least the small table must be provided cause
the one student might bring the one group of students at there for any studying
activities.

Figure 3: DTunjung village rural library

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2.3 Operation duration not suitable

The Duration issue still exists and may be a major contributor. A study
conducted by Norshila (2011) found that lack of time was the main reason young
people were deterred from visiting rural libraries. Young people who are still studying
on weekdays have limited time to go to school, so the time to go to the rural library is
limited on weekdays, but young people who are working can only go to the rural library
on weekends.(Siti Zobidah Omar,2012).For example,in Perbadanan Labuan
Library,the operation was until 5.00 p.m. except on Saturday that closed on 1.00
p.m.The good is every operation day must closed at 5.00 p.m too cause there are
certain people who busy might going on Saturday to library for spending a time with
reading.

2.4 Teenagers not interested

Inviting and attracting young people to come to rural libraries and use the
services offered can be a major challenge. A study conducted by Corradini (2003)
found that this group was highly discouraged from visiting rural libraries, and factors
such as urban migration and lack of interest may be the main culprits.Apart from
that,they consider the rural library a place that is suitable only for children and
readers.Maybe the certain students that love reading might know the rural library and
like the environment in rural library,but for students who were love to playing games
and not reading might not realize the existence of rural library nearing their place if
there were still not have the another solution in attract the people to come there.

2.5 Content not relevant

The sources of information provided and the activities carried out must be
relevant to the needs of rural youth and these are the main keys.To increase
attendance statistics for rural libraries.In rural library doest have many of collection
and the its not relevant to adult,teenagers for reading.Rural Library one of the top
reasons teens are hesitant to visit stores is issues with irrelevant content and
activities.In a study for example, the overloading of foreign publications and
information sources carried out by Raseroka (1986) Local libraries outnumber local
publications and this can lead to problems with unrelated sources.In addition, there

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are outdated sources that have not been updated, and related materials, sources and
activities may no longer exist and discouraging young people from using services
provided.

2.6 Language Barriers

Language can also be a barrier for patrons of local libraries. In Kelantan, english
sources can be a problem for local users with little knowledge of English. Much of the
information and resources in English were rarely available or borrowed by local users.
This problem is exacerbated when irrelevant sources and activities are ignored.
English sources only cause problems in rural communities,especially for those
unfamiliar with the language.

2.7 Lack of promotion

Rural Libraries in village might not recognise by certain people because the
lack of promotion including with the promotion of facilities which is the
computer,relevant collection,the interesting of the environment and so on.In social
media,not many promotion about rural library which is on Instagram,tik tok,facebook
and so on.

3.0 The solutions and recommendations

3.1 Government must provide more information technology

The availability of internet services is among the main factors that can attract
the youth to use the rural library services offered. Youth nowadays are more
comfortable to use the internet and it has been regarded as part of their life.The
respondents have stated that a number of ICT facilities available in the library have an
impact on the youth presence to the rural library.(Jusang Bolong,2012).

Information technology and communication technology were important cause we are

in 21st century that the technology is main the role in studying method for
example,students who were not have the line and internet at home can go to the
nearing rural library for complete the assignments,homework,joining the class in
goggle meet and doing the tutorial using the computer and internet.The computer must
be provided at least 2-4 computer cause want the rural libraries look more attractive

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and progressing in village.

3.2 Provide more collection

Teenagers mostly familiar with novel for example the love novel,fiction,horror
and so.Teenagers might interested in borrowing the novel and promote to their friends
with describe the book that they were borrowing.Other than that,magazines also can
attract the teenagers and adult for example Teenager and Woman
Magazine.Teenager Magazine was the magazine that teenagers love to read cause
there has the topic about young artist that has been interview,the promotion about
interesting café,and so on.

Next,the newspaper must provided in there cause some people might not use gadget
or telephone to watching or read the latest news for example the senior citizens who
were the from generation y may not instereted in use technology and want to read the
newspaper but some of them maybe doesn’t want to buying the newspaper and just
reading it in rural library.Lastly,the relevant books must be provided for example,the
latest book in 2022 must be in there which is the tutorial books for spm,essay,stpm
and others.The language also must be in English and Malay to balance the collection
cause some village people not good in English language but they also must must to
learning and familiar with the English language.

3.3 Provide many table and chair

In rural libraries,there not same with the school libraries that have many of table
and chair but the environment is different which is the rural libraries not many people
like in school,the students might choose rural libraries and at the same time,many of
others students who love the pieces might choose to study in rural libraries too.The
table and chair must be available to them because want to show that the rural library
is concerned with the comfortable of students and other people.This idea is to avoid
the student from not going anymore to there.

3.4 Change the operation time

Operation time in rural libraries might not same like another state for example
the Public library in Pulai chondong,Kelantan was closed on Friday and Saturday.On

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Saturday,rural library must be open cause students were not in school and they might
spend time in studying with friends on weekend and need to choose the piece
environment.Rural library in Pulai Chondong was open on Sunday until Thursday but
students might not go there in school time and the majority of students taking the spm
have the tuition on evening.

3.5 Promote the rural library in better way

The platform that better is social media which is many teenagers interested in
them for example,tiktok is one of the famous application on 2022.Many of business
women and man were use tiktok to making a live,videos,and selling on tik tok.For staff
in library also can create the tik tok for promoting the rural library and making a video
about the interesting collection and the benefits of rural library.The teenagers that
nearing with the rural library might going there if saw the video about it and also sharing
the videos to others people.

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Conclusion
Rural libraries are certainly important and still have related services and
activities that need to be provided to the rural community. To ensure relevance, the
seven issues and challenges were mentioned above should be emphasized by
government and staff.Despite the seven issues and challenges mentioned above, the
issue of lack of computer and facilities still needs to be emphasized first. This is the
main key to attracting more rural youth and using rural library services. Five solution
and recommendations were mentioned above and one of the recommendation is
about technology that must be more provided by government.

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References

Siti Zobidah Omar.,Hayrol Azril Mohamed Shaffril.,Jusang Bolong2 & Jeffrey

Lawrence D’Silva. (2012). The Impingement Factors of the Rural Library
Services Usage among Rural Youth in Malaysia.Asian Social Science ,8(7),61-
62. doi:10.5539/ass.v8n7p60
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268350703_The_Impingement_Fact
ors_of_the_Rural_Library_Services_Usage_among_Rural_Youth_in_Malaysi
a

Norshila Shaifuddin. (2012). A Conceptual Research Framework for Rural Library in

the Deveploment of Information Society:Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
in Libraries 1(1-3):69-77
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318283979_A_Conceptual_Researc
h_Framework_for_Rural_Library_in_the_Development_of_Information_Societ
y/citations