A visit to the Maafushi school library offers experiences beyond expectations

by Ajra Rafeeq

As a president of MLA, the first library I visited was the Maafushi School Library on December 19, 2022. This trip’s main goal was to explore the physical space and facilities of Maafushi School Library. Maafushi school librarians welcomed us with coconut decorated with flowers as a refreshment, and their hospitality was phenomenal.

Following the refreshment, we met the school principal, Mr. Abdul Nasir Mohamed, and the leading teacher, Mr. Mohamed Khaleel, to discuss the potential changes to the library’s development. Mr. Ahmed Shafeeq Ibrahim, the Deputy Principal, also attended the meeting. The principal shared information about the developments they have planned with the Council of Maafushi, which was a very good sign for the school library. During our meeting, we shared experiences. Dr. Aminath Riyaz of MNU and MLA highlighted ways that could aid in the development of school libraries, as well as how the University’s curriculum is designed. She also discussed how the Maldives National University’s Library and Information Services program could improve the quality of graduates for the job market.

Sukuma and Shuhudha, the two librarians, are both trained librarians who have completed the MNU Diploma and Advance Certificate in Library and Information services respectively. The school library collection is extensive (over 20,000 books) in comparison to other school libraries, and well-managed; they have organized the library in a way that users can quickly access the books, and the library is professionally managed. All of this was evident to me during this trip.

The Maafushi school principal is extremely supportive, and the librarians have complete decision-making authority. Even though management is not a library professional, they assist librarians in providing better services. They also encourage the two librarians to continue their studies despite the difficulties caused by the staff shortage. However, there are still insufficient resources to provide the best service possible. As technological capabilities improve, it is critical to automate and digitize the library resources and services.

Based on what we found, the library should be made more interesting and better suited for a wide range of school activities.

After the school meeting, we visited the community library, Foi Gunzaru (the book park). It is a small community library in front of the jetty where any visitors and the entire Maafushi community can visit and read books at any time, where people can sit and read books and enjoy themselves with the kids.