Ntsika Secondary School’s library is in need of a volunteer from the community to take over the reins from librarian Kate Burkinshaw.
Ntsika Secondary School’s library is in need of a volunteer from the community to take over the reins from librarian Kate Burkinshaw.
The library was officially opened last August and currently serves about 100 learners who read books on a voluntary basis.
The library was able to begin after a generous donation from former Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor Derek Henderson.
His will bequeathed money for educational purposes, which his daughters decided would be best used to start up libraries around Grahamstown.
With the help of a few further donations from Friends of the Library and post-sale books at Van Schaik, a team of retired women including Meg Hartzenberg, Betty Hartzenberg, Kay Marx and Kate Burkinshaw began the project.
Burkinshaw, who is interested in training a new person to take her place, says that prior experience of working in a library is not a requirement.
“Ours is a fairly simply run library with less than 3 000 books. The person we are looking for must have a rough grasp of the classification system, be willing to work three mornings a week and have minimal computer skills,” said Burkinshaw.
“If you love reading and are thrilled when you see children loving books it will really be rewarding,” smiled Burkinshaw.
Burkinshaw is currently training learners at the school to volunteer at the library on some afternoons.
The library has established itself through the pupils talking to their friends about the books they have read.
“It’s no use us adults trying to make reading seem fun for the children. They tell each other about the books they’ve read and then invite their friends,” said Burkinshaw.
Last year a reading club was started at the library by Sam Naidu of the Rhodes University English Department and a group of students.
The club was an overwhelming success with learners requesting that it continue this year.
Burkinshaw says that while there are about 50 isiXhosa books in stock, at a school with mostly isiXhosa first language speakers, these books are not as popular as she first imagined.
FunDza, a South African Literacy Trust, has two series’ of books which have become increasingly popular at Ntsika – Harmony High and Big Ups!
These books are particularly popular because they are short, written in simple English and reflect the students’ own lives and issues.
Books about vampires, including Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series, are also very popular, despite the fact that they are a more challenging read.
A John Grisham series about a teenage detective has also been popular as well as a number of religious books.
Burkinshaw noted that while there are a number of boys reading, it is mostly girls who support the library.
Teachers at the school have so much on their plate that very few of them refer learners to the library.
Burkinshaw says that she listens to requests and tries to assist leaners as much as possible in order to make the library feel like a welcoming environment.
“I don’t want to leave until I am sure the library is in good hands. I want it to continue to grow and be sustained,” said Burkinshaw.
