Thando Tshangela
“About 3% of schools in the Eastern Cape have school libraries,” said Cathy Gush, director of the Centre for Social Development (CSD). According to Gush, this means that local libraries will be overwhelmed with the number of students who want to access information to do their homework, assignments and study.
Thando Tshangela
“About 3% of schools in the Eastern Cape have school libraries,” said Cathy Gush, director of the Centre for Social Development (CSD). According to Gush, this means that local libraries will be overwhelmed with the number of students who want to access information to do their homework, assignments and study.
Librarians, CSD library volunteers, Friends of the Library, the Fingo Revolutionary Movement, and the assistant director of library service in the Makana municipality, Patricia Vubela, attended a workshop on Friday to map a way forward for children’s libraries and make them a place for learning in all respects. The workshop aimed at making libraries accessible, responsive, enjoyable and to utilise the CSD volunteers in a meaningful way while also mobilising the community to play a greater role in libraries.
The workshop participants came up with ideas for attracting and retaining learners in local libraries to do their homework, read for pleasure; and suggested a host of extramural and educational activities that can encourage children to visit more often and appreciate their libraries while instilling a love for books.
One CSD volunteer and teacher from Sweden, Annelie Gustavsson, told participants of her dismay at the lack of information in the schools. “One learner even asked me how much it was to join the library,” she said. At least 50 learners attended the programme and signed up for library cards.
Local Makana libraries face a host of challenges including lack of books, space as well as computer and Internet facilities. Children do not know how to do research, workshop participants, heard, the libraries are understaffed, parents are illiterate and not interested in motivating their children to join libraries, while children make noise, while others are simply too young (and unaccompanied) when they come to the library.
Yolanda Booi, a librarian from Riebeeck East said that learners in her area were not motivated to finish school because they felt post-matric opportunities were limited. “What’s the point of studying further, they moan,” she said. Her goal is to arrange a career fair and invite successful graduates who can motivate the learners about various careers.
The participants also suggested inviting the Department of Education officials to come and see how libraries are run so that they can be able to implement the system in schools. A grade 12 teacher from Mary Water’s High School has for example got a school library up and running. Ntando Mlilo has started a school library, and although her collection is limited, she said the learners love it.
"Kids are enthusiastic about the library, and they love reading," she said.
The deputy director of library service in Makana, Patricia Vubela thanked the CSD library volunteers for contributing their time and effort to make the libraries work. According to Vubela the local municipality was in the process of installing computers with Internet at the libraries. "The library (Hill Street library) will install computers with Internet so that people can use Internet and since some people are not computer literate the library volunteers can teach them how to use the computers," she said. The programme to install computers with Internet has begun at the Hill Street library and soon they will be up and running although Vubela could not give an exact time-frame. She said other libraries will follow later.
The co-ordiantor of the CSD library volunteers, Carol Johnson (correct) said that the role played by the volunteers was immense. "They assist the children with homework, reading for the children, playing games and help librarians with their work-load," she said.
All the participants agreed that more library volunteers were needed, that children had to be taught research skills so that they do not copy word for word from books. Libraries have to offer storytelling, screen educational DVDs and parents have to be encouraged to play an active role in their children’s involvement in the library, participants heard.
"The workshop has improved my understanding of how to do my work," said Mulalo Madula, a CSD library volunteer, after the workshop. According to CSD director Gush, the changes which are intended to improve the library are likely to be implemented over a period of time and she expected to see the improvement in library service next year.
A Fingo Revolutionary Movement activist, Ayanda Nondlwana, said that partnership was needed amongst all the stakeholders to make the vision for the library work.
