By Mohammed A. Khoshafah - The book has long been and still remains the main source for acquiring knowledge. We need books to study, to teach, and acquire information. Books are also the only way we can truly step into the skin of someone very different from us, and learn about other cultures, beliefs, and personalities.

They allow us to travel widely without ever leaving home.
Yet we often hear university students complaining about shortage of books in Yemen, and the general scarcity of educational resources and tools. Thus one of the most attractive things about Ibb University is its library, which is housed in the College of Education. The library itself was established in 1989, when it held only a few dozen books. When Ibb University was established in 1996, it incorporated the library, which became a central feature of the campus.

The number of books increased steadily to serve the students as well as the scholars. “The library has developed and is still developing. It currently contains more than 150,000 volumes in all fields of the human and applied sciences,” said Dr. Abdul-Hafeed Ali Fakeeh, an assistant professor in the department of English, and now the dean of the libraries.

“In the humanities, the library boasts books on education, the arts, languages, social sciences, commerce and others fields. In the applied sciences’ wing of the library, one will find literature related to medicine, especially dentistry and laboratory work, agriculture, chemistry, biology, physics, etc. These books and others we receive as gifts from international organizations, Yemeni organizations abroad, in countries like the United States, as well as universities in Saudi Arabia. The library also gets books from Aldar Almeyah in Sana’a and from educational and cultural exchange between Yemeni and other Arab universities.

Additionally, we have books and materials from some of the ministries, such as the Ministry of Planning and Higher Education and some census centers in Yemen.” The library helps disseminate scientific books that are in short supply by allowing students to photocopy them, or linger in the library with them. Furthermore, the library has introduced the concept of allowing students and faculty to check out books to take home. In the new academic year, it will issue library cards, and students will be allowed to borrow books for four days while the faculty will be able to keep them for a fortnight. Since last year, Ibb Library has benefited from an ADSL internet connection.

The university also intends to make an electronic library with e-books available, in cooperation with The Ministry of Higher Education, which has expressed a desire to establish electronic libraries in Sana’a , Aden , Taiz and Ibb. This new educational aid will help scholars and students alike to get acquainted with technological tools, and help them stay informed about research conducted abroad and scientific breakthroughs. A general catalogue will help users in finding M.A, M.S, and Ph.D theses by titles.

“The central library is considered one of he most important sections in the university,” said Nabila Al-Haddad, a professor and one of librarians. “All students, teachers, and employees depend on it.” The central library has three halls, which contain books on diverse topics. The first hall contains books that may be borrowed, such as biology, chemistry, mathematics, and religion, among others. The second hall contains dictionaries, encyclopedias, magazines, and original research by students and professors. These books are to be used for reference purposes only, and may not be checked out.

The third hall contains books and computers. The computers are used by the student body and the faculty for research and to find other sources on the Internet. “In the future the library will be even more organized,” said Al-Haddad. “And I hope that it will be housed in its own building to increase its efficacy. I also hope we will be able to benefit from our computers to maximize the tools we do have in order to improve the educational experience at the university.”

The dean of the libraries and the librarians of Ibb University expect a bright and promising future. They also expect there will be an independent building for the library, consisting of four floors, funded by the International Monetary Fund. Work is expected to begin in January 2007.
Source: Yemen Observer