Westonaria Library wins UKS Helping Hands Competition

During a proposal to the organisers of the UKS Helping Hands Competition, Programmes Librarian at Westonaria Library, Righardt le Roux explained why this library will be the top contender to win this competition and use this opportunity to reach out and help even more people in the community.

The UKS Helping Hands Competition focuses on community development and how an organisation can use the help from UKS to better the lives of those less fortunate.

In Righardt’s proposal to UKS, he indicated that libraries play an important role in the everyday lives of their community.

“We no longer just serve as an information and book lending service, but constantly strive to impact positively on our community through social development and educational programmes,” says Righardt.

He adds that librarians need to be aware that the role of libraries are shifting, especially in areas where people do not read or cannot read.

“Therefore, we use the libraries in and around Westonaria as a safe space where people can meet and engage in dialogue without laying out money or acquire life skills to improve their everyday life,” says Righardt.

With Righardt’s positive proposal and well argued issues, the UKS decided to award Westonaria Library as the overall winner of the 2013 Helping Hands Competition.

“By receiving this grant from UKS, Westonaria Library will be in a stronger position to assist more destitute pupils in a yearlong programme, thereby encouraging the development of local children and helping these youngsters to take ownership of their own future career paths and eventually become employable citizens,” says Righardt.

He adds that the library will now be facilitating extended learning and will be seen as a hub for the community discussions and development.

According to Righardt, UKS took a lot of aspects into consideration to determine the winner of this competition.

The criteria that was taken into consideration focused on sustainability, the ability to engage with outside stakeholders, community involvement as well as the long-term benefits to the community.

Westonaria Library’s project fulfilled this criteria and was crowned as overall winner for the 2013 programme.

“Against all odds, the Westonaria Library has expanded their community programme, and with the help from UKS, we will now be able to do more,” says Righardt.