Westonaria Library hosts Nali’Bali project

With the 2014 Nalibali Project, Westonaria Library aimed not only to offer access to books and information, but also to instill a love for reading and books in the youth.

According to Programmes Librarian at Westonaria Library, Righardt le Roux, they, along with the Westonaria community, fought very hard to do away with the typecast of the library as a place where library staff glower and insist that children keep quiet.

“Especially on Friday afternoons making use of the Nalibali supplements provided by Preasa we have lots fun while learning,” says Le Roux.

He adds that as a library they have not wavered in their devotion to books but they are also mindful of the fact that they are competing with all the technological gadgets out there in the real world, so to keep kids reading and coming back for more they also strive to have their recipe right.

Westonaria Library have really tapped into this national Nalibali campaign for reading for enjoyment with more than 600 children now reading on a weekly basis at various venues in and around Westonaria, sparking children’s potential through storytelling and reading.

One of the latest stories provided by Nalibali was ‘Theo the Library Cat’ with the main character a cat that went to the local library to find answers to all his questions. One of the things Theo learned was how to make bubblegum.

“I immediately put this group of regular readers to the test as we all love bubblegum,” says Le Roux.

Young Samantha van der Nest rose brilliantly to the challenge and Googled the recipe on how to make bubblegum and by trial and error and adding more and more sugar eventually she got it just right.

Westonaria Library then invited the chairperson from the local Women’s Agricultural Union to join in the tasting and was so impressed that this 12 year old girl has now been invited to go and talk to the women at their forum on the subject as Westonaria’s very own young master chef.