Sungai Petani, 30 July 2026 – Sultan Badlishah Library (PSB), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Kedah Branch, in collaboration with Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Sungai Layar, successfully organized the Knowledge Cultivation Collaboration Programme for students of SMK Sungai Layar, Sungai Petani, Kedah. The programme, held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., was attended by 291 Form Three students. The opening ceremony was officiated by the Chief Librarian of the Sultan Badlishah Library, UiTM Kedah Branch, Puan Azizah Khasim.
- PSB empowered 291 students through bibliotherapy, speed reading, and information literacy workshops.
- A knowledge-sharing programme enhanced students' reading, digital literacy, and emotional well-being.
- PSB and SMK Sungai Layar promoted lifelong learning through interactive educational workshops.
Throughout the programme, three main workshops were conducted. The first was the Bibliotherapy Workshop, facilitated by Encik Mohd Amiruddin Mohd Nasir, Senior Librarian. The workshop focused on the use of reading materials such as books, short stories, poems, and articles as therapeutic tools to promote students' emotional well-being and mental resilience.One of the workshop activities involved reading a selected short story as bibliotherapeutic material. Upon completing the reading, students were guided to reflect on and better understand their own feelings and emotions. They also learned strategies for managing stress, anxiety, and internal conflicts by relating to the experiences and emotions of the characters in the story.
The second activity was the Basic Speed Reading Techniques Workshop, conducted by Puan Atirah Ruslan, Senior Librarian. The workshop introduced participants to effective reading strategies and techniques designed to improve reading efficiency and comprehension. Students also participated in practical speed-reading exercises that enhanced both their reading speed and their level of understanding.
The programme continued with the Information Literacy: Searching Techniques Workshop, delivered by Encik Omar Zainol as the principal speaker. The workshop aimed to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively and systematically in a digital environment. In addition to attending the briefing, participants actively engaged in hands-on information-searching exercises using the techniques introduced during the session. Students were also introduced to u-PUSTAKA, Malaysia's National Digital Library service developed by the National Library of Malaysia, which provides free access to a wide range of digital resources for all Malaysian citizens.
Overall, the programme provided participants with valuable exposure to the importance of information literacy and effective digital information retrieval techniques that can support their teaching and learning activities. The programme also reflects the aspiration of the UiTM Chief Librarian to expand the impact of knowledge-sharing initiatives and strengthen community engagement.
The successful implementation of the programme generated meaningful benefits and positive outcomes for both SMK Sungai Layar and the organizer, the Sultan Badlishah Library, UiTM Kedah Branch. It further strengthened knowledge sharing in the areas of information literacy, speed reading, and bibliotherapy while highlighting the vital role of libraries in supporting teaching and learning within and beyond the university. The programme also embodies the vision of the Tun Abdul Razak Library (PTAR), ”Pembudayaan Ilmu Membentuk Adiwangsa”.
It is hoped that the knowledge and skills shared throughout the programme will continue to benefit the participants and inspire them to become lifelong learners who are information literate, emotionally resilient, and academically empowered.
