Entering the World of Books

According to Wikipedia, a library is a "collection of sources of information and similar resources, made accessible to  defined community for reference or borrowing." Books are the major aspect of what libraries and librarians are about. Librarianship is a people profession, and I enjoy being a librarian myself.

To start off, do you enjoy law? Medicine? Music? Working with college students? Working with people of all ages? Or perhaps working with children? If yes, below are general descriptions of the major types of libraries as well as other opportunities to consider:

1. Academic Library

Academic libraries serve colleges and universities, their students, staff and faculty. Larger institutions may have several libraries on their campuses which dedicated to serving particular schools such as law and science libraries. Many academic librarians become specialists in an area of knowledge and can have faculty status.

International Medical University, Bukit Jalil

2. Public Library

Public libraries serve communities of all sizes and types. Wherever you live, there's bound to be a local public library nearby. As the name implies, public libraries serve the general public, "from cradle to grave" as more than one public librarian has been heard to say. Public libraries often have departments that focus on areas of service, such as youth, teens and adults. 

National Library, Kuala Lumpur

3. School Library

School libraries are usually part of a school system, and serve students between kindergarten and secondary school. Many are called media centers, and librarians are often required to have a second degree in education or a certificate in school media.

Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Kuantan

4. Special Library

Special libraries offer unique opportunities to work in a specialised environment of interest, such as corporations, hospitals, the military, museums, private businesses, and the government. Special libraries can serve particular populations, such as the blind and physically handicapped, while others are dedicated to special collections.

Petronas Twin Tower Library, Kuala Lumpur

Libraries are one of the places in the world to improve ourselves. It offers a door for everyone, regardless of age groups. Libraries offer free education and entertainment to the masses. I really hope libraries will always be around in the future.

Prepared by,

Aimie Nadia binti Md Nor

Library Executive

Vision College

We Give...We Get

The best of sadaqah is given during the month of Ramadhan. Sadaqah is a voluntary giving. Any form of charity such as a simple smile, forgiveness, or monetary amount given at will. Giving does not necessarily mean giving out money or material items, however, in this challenging times; giving money can help make a lot of useful and beneficial things happen, for an individual or group of poor families. 

The act of giving can be in many forms not only in monetary form. For example, the time, energy and effort we give to help out family members, relatives, friends, neighbours or people on the street. Giving is a mutual benefit. We are also benefiting ourselves in ways we might not expect. According to studies, when we give, we get that gratifying "helper's high," the blast of feel good hormones such as oxytocin. Below are some of the benefits of giving:

1. Giving makes us feel happy.

Giving money to someone else lifted one's happiness more that spending it on themselves. These good feelings are reflected in our biology. When people give to charities, it activates regions of the brain associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust, creating a "warm glow" effect. It releases endorphin in the brain, producing the positive feeling known as the "helper's high." Givers are benefiting from a big dose of happiness in the process. 

2. Giving is good for our health. 

A wide range of medical research has linked different forms of generosity to better health, even among the sick and elderly. Below are some of the results:

a. Elderly people who volunteered for two or more organisations were 44% less likely to die over a five-year period than non-volunteers, even after controlling for their age, exercise habits, general health, and negative health habits like smoking.

b. Giving may improve physical health and longevity that helps decrease stress, which is associated with a variety of health problems. 

c. Individuals who provided practical help to friends, relatives, or neighbours, or gave emotional support to their spouses, had a lower risk of dying over a five-year period than those who didn't. 

3. Giving promotes cooperation and social connection.

When you give, you're more likely to get back. Naturally, when you give to others, your generosity is likely to be rewarded by others down the line, sometimes by the person you gave to, sometimes by someone else. These exchanges promote a sense of trust and cooperation that strengthens our ties to others. It also  creates good mental and physical health.

4. Giving evokes gratitude.

Giving can be a way of expressing gratitude or instilling gratitude in the recipient. Cultivating gratitude in everyday life is one of the keys to increasing personal happiness. When you express your gratitude in words or actions, you not only boost your own positivity but other people's as well. 

By giving out what you have without expecting anything in return, you start living a meaningful life. You get to realise your true calling in a life and world full of challenging. If you find meaning in the lives of those in need and do something about it, you will also find meaning in your own life.

"You give but little when you give your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give." - Kahlil Gibran.

Prepared by,

Wan Faridah Wan Abbas

Lecturer, Diploma in Business & Administration
Vision College