This is a reference to the previous library complaint article:
The fact that the library is always packed and full in not a mistake, but it means people are recognising the importance of utilising the library, which reflects a positive future in our town looking at the youth development and poverty.
If people are packed in the library, it means they are working towards a brighter future and this should not be denied to any individual. I also think we should be happy that people are utilising their public resources (library) to develop themselves; looking at our Constitution that says: “Everyone has the right to information”.
Hence the information we preserve in the library is not for whites, Indians, blacks or coloureds, but it’s for everyone to utilise from all ages. Secondly it’s very hard to control the noise in the town library since it’s being used by the population from all parts of Estcourt, Weenen, Colenso, Papkuils, Forderville, Mabhanonini, Colita, Wembezi, Loskop, Ntabamhlophe, et cetera the list is endless. The study desk at the town library allows us to interact while studying and besides that, the libraries of today are no more traditional libraries where you will find everyone studying quietly. Libraries today are social places where people gather and interact in respect of their information needs.
If maybe the library has a number of group rooms or discussion and study cubicles instead of tables, the noise can be controlled.
Thirdly, the town library cannot be compared to any other library because the town library has a number of facilities, which are not available in other libraries such as a large study area, toys, chess, a tertiary and computer section.
Besides the facilities mentioned above, the town library is situated in town, so everyone around town has easy access to the library. I also believe that the staff are kind and polite to users and they are always willing to assist the users to help them in meeting their information needs, obviously guided by service delivery standards of BATHO PELE. The library is maintained by professionals and is always packed because they strategically know how to attract and maintain their users.
Fourthly, with regards to books being unpacked, you will never find this library empty like any other libraries. “Libraries everywhere are reinventing themselves as social spaces, which seem to be doing the trick of getting more people to actually visit one.”
A Very Concerned Regular Library User
