Library Week promotes awareness

South African Library Week is commemorated from 19 to 25 March this year under the theme ‘Libraries: Heart of the Community’ and Polokwane Municipality already took the lead with a visit to the Aganang and Itsoseng Adult Basic Education (Abet) centres on Monday morning, followed by presentations at all nine of the city’s libraries being scheduled until 22 March.
Communications and Marketing Manager of the municipality, Matshidiso Mothapo said in a media release that the municipality will be focusing on encouraging the communities at large to realise the significance of using municipal libraries for their personal enrichment and academic purposes. “Our library staff have planned various programmes which will entertain library users to enjoy reading and visiting libraries as part of acquiring knowledge. Also, our librarians will be promoting school visits as part of celebrating Library Week,” Mothapo explained and added that the city’s libraries provide essential services ranging from internet access, storytelling and language in addition to free space to study and read, using the information resources and services provided. On Monday morning the Aganang and Itsoseng ABET centres were visited by staff from the municipality’s library services. “It was the first time for some of the students there to be made aware of the facilities provided by libraries. We took nonfiction books on topics that included gardening, cooking, plumbing and DIY along and the adults expressed their desire to have their own library facilities in the rural areas. We advised them to make use of the municipality’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) processes to bring their needs to the municipality’s attention,” Senior Library Assistant, Emma Lehonye, told Polokwane Observer after the visit.
Later on Monday, young residents from Samaritan Children’s Home visited the public library in the city where they were orientated on the facilities and services offered. They were also taken on a tour of the different sections of the library. “It was the first time in their lives to be in a real library and they were quite shy in the beginning. When we started to engage with them, they started to ask questions and even danced for us at the tune of a music CD that they brought along,” said Lehonye and added that she was so touched by the children’s’ interest in library matters that she will promote the establishment of a book club for the children. “We can then pay regular visits to the home and provide them with books on a rotational basis,” Lehonye said.
Visits to the Nirvana, Moletji, Westenburg, Seshego, Mankweng, Matlala and Molepo libraries were scheduled for the coming two weeks. Library awareness and topics which include Waste Education, Environmental Awareness, Bursary Awareness and Career Opportunities will be on the agenda.

Story and photo: BARRY VILJOEN
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