Libraries not just for exam preps
A few days ago, I took myself on a simple sel f -date to the National Library Service (NLS) in Blantyre.
It had been decades since I last stepped into the library as a child.
While the building is not exactly glamorous, the experience turned out to be deeply refreshing and quite revealing.
Inside, it was alive with focussed energy. Most of the seats were occupied by young people preparing for the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) e x aminat ion starting in July.
You could see the hunger in the learners’ eyes— determination wr i tten across their faces.
That was beautiful.
But as I sat down with a bottle of water, almost lost in thoughts, something struck me: Why do we only remember libraries during examination season?
Why are these halls not packed all year round with curious minds, innovators, researchers, readers—even casual wanderers looking for inspiration?
A good library is not jus t a place for passing examinations.
It c an be a factory for new ideas, a safe space for philosophical debates, a hub for community building and sanctuary to grind food for thought.
I magine students discussing the Malawi 2063 vision , entrepreneurs brainstorming projects, youth groups unpacking the national budget, creatives writing and researching— not for marks, but for their shared future and purpose.
Now, that is the future one would want to see come true.
Unlike in the past, NLS has introduced a library entry fee pegged at K150 a day.
For toilet use, you cough K100. To charge your phone and other electronic gadgets, you part with K300.
Wait a minute, for a public learning facility that is losing its allure, this is supposed to be for free.
How ever , looking at thes helves , the books need replacing.
Wi-fi is a wild dream there and the chairs and tables are quite rickety.
Nonetheless, I left hopeful t hat with all the sef laws , the culture of reading did not die in the good ole yesteryears. People are still reading and writing, pushing forward.
Apar t f rom adding shaded outdoor seating, proper ventilation and cooling, computers and free internet would work wonders.
The desks and chairs need fixing for more comfort and closing hours could be extended to 9pm to accommodate working class library users.
Updating the book collection regularly, embracing e-books and launching massive reading campaigns would also whip up a reading culture.
Reading pays.
Knowledge gained from reading deeply can change how we think , act and develop as a nation.
Currently , what Malawi lacks is not just infrastructure, but a deeper philosophy that will spur the change we want.
If we build a culture that values reading, learning, conversation and thinking, we will reap the desired fruits: better decisions, informed citizens, stronger leadership and a future that inspires hope.
It’s not too late.
Ev en two years of committed effort could make a visible difference.
We just need to start. Sometimes, all it takes is a quiet afternoon, a library and a bottle of water
