During June 2013 Library Information Services for Westonaria celebrated children’s achievements who partook in the annual language skills development program open to all grade 7 pupils within the greater municipal boundaries.
Children from Westonaria, Simunye, Bekkersdal and Venterspost competed against each other by reading five books and writing a book review on each book.
This programme saw a 233 per cent increase in one school between 2012 and 2013 with children ending up on waiting lists in order to get a chance to read the selected books and finishing their book reports before the closing date.
Twelve finalists were identified by ‘The Friends of the Library’ after which the children had to sit for a oral interview with panel members Karin Kitching (LIASA EXCO Member), Monica van Deventer (Senior Librarian SABC), Aninie Vorster (African Book Company) and Elsa den Haan (Juta).
Juta also acted as one of the major sponsors awarding goody bags to the top three achievers.
On 10 June Koekie Meyer, Director LIS Gauteng announced Monica Mei as the overall winner at Venterspost Primary School.
During her speech Koekie congratulated all children attending Venterspost for their commitment to reading and improving their education, one of the deciding factors resulting in a new library to be build at the school.
Kyle Grootboom, a grade 10 pupil from Hoërskool Jan Viljoen, was invited to address grade 6 and 7 pupils on the importance of selfeducation.
During his speech he encouraged LIS and the Education Department to look into the possibility of funding a social-media application to assist pupils to study online at their libraries.
He encouraged the director LIS as well as educators present to look into the possibility of launching study-group-campaigns where pupils can study by visiting other schools and in this way share insights just as is happening on social media groups, the most talked about subject in- and outside of schools.
He sees online libraries bringing together the thing teenagers do the most and the thing teenagers needs the most, being on their cell phones and studying in this way like Hana Montana creating the best of both worlds.
Quoting Will Smith in an episode of the Fresh Prince of Bell Air he said: ” I use to carry my books in a pizza box, so that people don’t realize I’m studying” laughingly he shared the fact that it ended rather embarrassing for the “prince” when his pizza was hijacked.
He encouraged pupils to take the words of Mark Twain to heart – the man who doesn’t read, has no privledge above the man who cannot read.
All six finalists received book packs sponsored by Nali’bali and Wimpy as well as gift vouchers with the overall winner’s school fees paid in full by Library Information Services, Westonaria.
This programme was primarily introduced to cultivate a love for books and reading amongst local children, programme librarian Righardt le Roux says: “We at Westonaria Library as well as on provincial level is very excited to witness the wonderful growth in this and other programmes at our various libraries and honours should go to the teachers and principals with whom we have established a good working relationship and who drives this at their schools.”
“In the three years that the programme has been running this is the second time a pupil from Veterspost Primary wins, who knows what will happen next year but we are already looking forward to seeing what will happen,” says Righardt.
