New library for Shiluvane

The Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Rejoice Mabudafhasi officially handed over a new library to Shiluvane community on Friday.The state-of-the-art study facility cost the provincial Department of Sports, Arts and Culture R8 million to complete.

The first of its kind to be built in the deep rural areas of Greater Tzaneen, the facility has a computer room, with access to the internet for community members to use free of charge, reading area, children’s library facilities, ablution facilities and is also user-friendly to people living with disabilities.

Mabudafhasi advised the community to form a library committee, inclusive of all stakeholders to coordinate activities at the new facility.

She encouraged school and tertiary students not to read only prescribed books. “Read as many books as you can to improve your knowledge,” she said. She said community has a major role to play to ensure that the facility is preserved.

She encouraged members of the community at large to make full use of the resources and material in the library. School learners said it was difficult to study at home due to high levels of noise in the village.

“Learners who often experience challenges when they study at home or during exams can now make use of the new library,” added Mabudafhasi.

One of the university students who attended the handing over ceremony, Stanley Mogale said that during holidays he will no longer has to walk long distances in order to access books and material needed for assignments and research purposes.

Community members and school learners came in numbers to witness the handing over of the new library in their area