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There are libraries in every quarter of a European city, feeding the local people that live in the area. Even if you are not going to a certain place specifically for a book, it is nice to know that there is a library in that neighborhood.
But it is rather difficult to find a decent library in Istanbul. There are a few libraries in Kadıköy or in Beyazıt but the rest are largely neglected and remain unknown.
People usually prefer to use second-hand bookshops for reference books because it is hard to find a good and rich library. The main necessity, ultimately, is a public library, rather than an exclusive library. Public libraries should be the main focal point for books, but there are clearly not enough public or university libraries.
The only proper libraries in Turkey can be found in Ankara – Bilkent University’s library is one of the best libraries in Turkey, for instance. However, as for other public or state university libraries, the situation is dire, even in Ankara.
The lack of libraries may not make society a philistine one, but surely it affects the perception of intellectuality and culture in the country. For example there are just one or two libraries in big cities such as Bursa or Adana.
It is not that no one needs it. There are large universities in some cities, such as Adana’s Çukurova University, or Konya’s Selçuk University, so those people (Ph.D. and master’s students) should require a different reference library rather than just their universities’ library.
The lack of libraries in the cities may also result from an inefficient educational system in Turkey. Currently, the actual problems may seem like it is the result of the academic staff. However, the budget allocated to research materials in university is so small that even academic staff often cannot obtain enough reference books, forcing academics to struggle with each other in a bid to find books.
Books at libraries may bring freedom to a society as libraries open another dimension in terms of the perception of culture and the arts.
Istanbul was a European Capital of Culture for all of 2010, yet there are not enough libraries in the city – this just go to show that the mission to increase the cultural level in the city has failed.
But it is rather difficult to find a decent library in Istanbul. There are a few libraries in Kadıköy or in Beyazıt but the rest are largely neglected and remain unknown.
People usually prefer to use second-hand bookshops for reference books because it is hard to find a good and rich library. The main necessity, ultimately, is a public library, rather than an exclusive library. Public libraries should be the main focal point for books, but there are clearly not enough public or university libraries.
The only proper libraries in Turkey can be found in Ankara – Bilkent University’s library is one of the best libraries in Turkey, for instance. However, as for other public or state university libraries, the situation is dire, even in Ankara.
The lack of libraries may not make society a philistine one, but surely it affects the perception of intellectuality and culture in the country. For example there are just one or two libraries in big cities such as Bursa or Adana.
It is not that no one needs it. There are large universities in some cities, such as Adana’s Çukurova University, or Konya’s Selçuk University, so those people (Ph.D. and master’s students) should require a different reference library rather than just their universities’ library.
The lack of libraries in the cities may also result from an inefficient educational system in Turkey. Currently, the actual problems may seem like it is the result of the academic staff. However, the budget allocated to research materials in university is so small that even academic staff often cannot obtain enough reference books, forcing academics to struggle with each other in a bid to find books.
Books at libraries may bring freedom to a society as libraries open another dimension in terms of the perception of culture and the arts.
Istanbul was a European Capital of Culture for all of 2010, yet there are not enough libraries in the city – this just go to show that the mission to increase the cultural level in the city has failed.
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