Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA’S libraries are increasingly integrating computers, internet connectivity and electronic resources into their services as part of efforts to ensure learners can access information and develop the skills needed to navigate the digital age.
Speaking during an information-sharing session on the 2026 Annual Readathon, Deputy Director of the Namibia Library and Archive Service, Namutenya Hamwaalwa, said the library system was adapting to changes in the way people learn and access information.
She said public libraries already provide computers and internet access, while the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture was working towards ensuring that school libraries are also equipped with computers and connected to the internet.
Hamwaalwa said these services are provided free of charge to the public, giving learners and communities access to digital information and learning resources.
The Namibia Library and Archive Service also subscribes to electronic resources, although Hamwaalwa acknowledged that greater awareness was needed to encourage people to make use of them.
She said information professionals have an important role in helping users identify, access and assess reliable information in an environment where the volume of available information continues to grow.
“We want people to read with understanding. We want people who are reading and you can question what you are reading,” Hamwaalwa said.
She said reading and technology should complement each other rather than compete, with learners able to use both printed books and electronic resources to expand their knowledge.
Chief Librarian of the Education Library Service, Bianca Basson, said this approach was central to this year’s Readathon theme, “Read Namibia: Embrace Technology Within the Education Sector”.
Basson said the theme recognises the growing use of technology and artificial intelligence in education, while emphasising that reading remains a fundamental skill for lifelong learning and informed decision-making.
She said learners and communities also need to be equipped with skills to critically evaluate information found online, acknowledge sources and properly cite material to avoid plagiarism and copyright infringement.
Basson also highlighted the Namibia Reads app, which is available through the Google Play Store and provides access to reading resources in English and indigenous languages. The resources can be downloaded for online or offline use.
NIWAN President Melba Mabuku-Stwala said academic libraries were also helping students understand how to use artificial intelligence and other digital resources responsibly.
She said information professionals had to continuously update their own skills as technology evolved so that they could effectively guide users.
Mabuku-Stwala said the growing volume of digital information and relatively low use of some electronic resources remained challenges for libraries and academic institutions.
She called for continued awareness campaigns and training to help users make greater use of available electronic resources.
The Readathon organisers also emphasised the importance of critical thinking in the digital environment, particularly as information is increasingly shared through social media and other online platforms.
Hamwaalwa said libraries could provide learners with reliable resources and quiet spaces for reading and learning, while also allowing them to explore subjects beyond their school curriculum.
She said the long-term goal was not to separate books from technology, but to create an environment where both could be used together to support learning, innovation and lifelong education.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: National Library of Namibia
