At a conference held in Damascus, the development of school libraries in Syria and their place in the educational process were examined. The presentation emphasized that libraries have evolved from mere book storage spaces into centers that actively support learning.
Legal Transformation from the 1950s to 1985
Emir Hamd, head of the school libraries branch within the Damascus Education Directorate, gave a presentation as part of the "Damascus, the Stronghold of Arabic" event series held at the center. Hamd detailed the status of school libraries in Syria and the ongoing legal development process since the 1950s.
He explained that the initial efforts focused on supplying books to schools and organizing the operations of library staff. The first comprehensive regulation issued in 1972 clarified the library's role in supporting the curriculum and strengthening the culture of reading.
By 1985, the concept of libraries expanded towards becoming centers of learning resources, with visual and auditory tools integrated into the system during this period, Hamd noted.
Main Services Provided by Libraries
The presentation also covered the lending services, resource referencing, and guiding students to information that school libraries offer. Hamd emphasized the importance of current and selective information services to adapt to the era of accelerated information flow.
Evaluating the concept of school librarianship, Hamd described it as a tool that educates students on library use, cataloging, and skills for re-accessing information. He proposed dedicating one lesson hour per week for this purpose.
According to Hamd, libraries also play a significant role in organizing exhibitions, talks, competitions, and cultural events. He added that wall magazines should be prepared and time allocated for free reading.
Proposal for a Special Day to Strengthen Reading Culture
At the end of the talk, Hamd mentioned that an annual day is dedicated to school libraries, falling on the Monday of the third week of October. Additionally, a week of activities is held at the beginning of December.
The purpose of these practices is to strengthen the culture of reading and encourage students to make greater use of library services.