SIBU: The Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming rural libraries into vibrant community spaces where children can learn, socialise and develop their creativity, following the successful staging of the Mini Community Library Carnival at the Bawang Assan Village Library at the West Bank here on Saturday.
The programme, officiated by Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Youth chief, Kevin Lau Kor Jie who represented SRDC chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai, drew encouraging participation from parents and children from the surrounding communities, reflecting growing public support for initiatives promoting reading and lifelong learning.
Lau, who is also SRDC Environment and Public Health Standing Committee chairman, expressed appreciation to parents for actively bringing their children to the carnival, describing their support as instrumental in cultivating a reading culture and meaningful community engagement.
The event builds on the momentum of SRDC’s Jom Ke Perpustakaan campaign introduced last year to encourage greater use of libraries under the council’s jurisdiction.
This year, the initiative was enhanced with a carnival concept featuring interactive games and educational activities designed to attract young participants while encouraging family involvement.
The revamped programme aimed to demonstrate that libraries can offer much more than books, providing an enjoyable environment where children can learn through play while strengthening family and community bonds.
According to Lau, SRDC envisions its rural libraries evolving beyond their traditional role as centres of knowledge into welcoming community hubs where students can meet friends, exchange ideas, collaborate creatively and spend their free time in positive and healthy activities.
Such an environment, he said, would help nurture creativity, encourage social interaction and instil lifelong learning habits among the younger generation.
He also urged the parents to continue encouraging their children to make full use of the libraries, which remain readily accessible public facilities offering valuable opportunities for both intellectual growth and meaningful social connections.
The event featured a range of activities including musical games, rubber band and cup-stacking challenges, crossword competitions, Makerspace demonstrations and digital e-wallet awareness sessions, before concluding with a prize presentation ceremony for competition winners.
