Government’s plans of creating a literate and informed society by taking library services closer to the people are gaining momentum. The Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation will officially open a new library in Masoyi.
In her 2012/2013 Policy and Budget Speech, MEC Sibongile Manana announced the departments’ commitment to the building of new libraries and also the improvement of existing ones across Mpumalanga province. She also expressed the departments’ desire to promote the culture of reading with the purpose of empowering the people of Mpumalanga with knowledge, especially those in disadvantaged and impoverished areas.
In the current financial year an amount of R36 million was set aside for the establishment of new libraries including the Masoyi Library which means the people of Masoyi and neighbouring communities will now access library services including internet services right where they stay. Students, learners and community members alike will now have access also to relevant up to date information online.
It goes without saying that the department is committed to making library services available to all communities in Mpumalanga more especially the rural communities and is working tirelessly to address the current backlog on library services whilst transforming library material and services such that they are relevant to the demographics of the province and country.
Says Manana, “we are very excited about this milestone as government and we are looking forward to presenting this new library to the people of Masoyi. We implore the members of the community to protect and take care of this library as it will go a long way in ensuring that the people of Masoyi, more especially learners have a safe, accessible and well equipped place of learning.”
