Trainees told to use skills, reach out

 By JENNIFER NKUI

INFORMATION management in communities and organidations is crucial, a university academic says. 

Prof Betty Lovai, the executive dean for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, told 66 graduating trainees, most of them librarians, that their job was to get information down to the communities.

Lovai addressed the trainees of a two-week long course in basic library and information skills at their graduation ceremony at the University of Papua New Guinea  in Port Moresby last Friday.  

She challenged them to go back to their communities and improve their systems of storing, retrieving and disseminating information.

“Be useful professionals to reach out to others in the society,” Lovai said. 

“Apply your skills in a social context because PNG needs people who are efficient and able to manage information for public consumption. 

“Information is important because it can be used to benefit individuals and organisations.” 

Lovai told the trainees that information was power but they should know how to manage it. 

“How your qualification and knowledge is managed is very important in life,” Lovai said. 

She congratulated her staff in managing their time and running the course.

“The time has come for UPNG to reach out to others outside of the campus,” she said. 

“The large number of participants indicates the interest or the need of knowledge to improve one’s skills and knowledge. The basic library and information skills training course will be offered because of demand.”