The four Lusaka City Council (LCC) run public libraries are in a deplorable state and look like archives with tattered and outdated books that need replacement.

A check by Diamond News at the four libraries in the Central Business District (CBD), Chilenje, Matero and Mtendere found just a few people utilizing their services, while others had no people.

Meanwhile, speaking in separate interviews, some pupils doing their secondary education have encouraged fellow youths to develop a reading culture so as to better themselves and stay away from bad vices.

And Chikondi Sports Youth Arise Foundation (CSYF), an organization that uses sports to promote a reading culture, has called on the local authority to partner with some stakeholders in order to improve the standards of their libraries in the capital city.

By Tito Kalama