The City of Cape Town’s libraries welcomed back 2 798 outstanding books, magazines, DVDs and other material. Patrons took advantage of the fine free period, which coincided with South African Library Week (SALW) from 14 to 20 March to return items.
‘South African Library Week is a highlight on our calendar for many reasons, as it not only celebrates the values of libraries, but also allows patrons to return overdue items. Our librarians are ecstatic at the number of items returned as it means so many more can enjoy the items beings offered.
‘Libraries provide countless resources including educational materials, scientific publications, fiction and non-fictional titles, but these are limited. We rely on our patrons to return items when they are done. Keeping an item simply deprives someone else of accessing it,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross.
Some of the most popular titles returned include a large number of children’s books, and fairy tales in particular.
The libraries also used Library Week to conduct membership drives in communities and hosted local authors, poets and other celebrities.
Each area hosted learners from schools in the surrounding community and several libraries teamed up to ensure that the programmes are integrated.
Other highlights celebrated include:
• Hanover Park Library, in collaboration with the Brightlife foundation, hosted an exhibition celebrating the role models of Hanover Park
• A “how to join the library” video was created by the marketing team at Central Library, which was narrated in the three official languages of the Western Cape and the librarians held an outreach programme at Scalabrini Centre in collaboration with staff from the City Health Department and the Chapel Street Clinic
• Bonteheuwel Library collaborated with Safeline for an information session for Grade 4 learners, and in a second collaboration with the Heart and Stroke foundation they did blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar levels, glucose and BMI checks among interested patrons.
Librarians also used the opportunity to promote their e-resources.
Patrons are able to access e-books and audio books online and read or listen to them on any smart mobile device or personal computer.
All you need is your library card to access e-books on OverDrive via the free Libby app, which allows you to log in to your local library and then access e-books, audiobooks, and magazines.
Use your library card number to register and the password will be the last six digits of your card number.
Another interesting platform is PressReader, which allows patrons to read magazines and newspapers from around the world. Patrons of the City of Cape Town libraries are able to access this resource from their desktops, as well as from smart mobile devices by visiting the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC). https://opac,capetown.gov.za
‘A huge thank you to our patrons who have returned their overdue library material. I want to encourage others who still have items, to return them even if they’ve incurred a fine,’ added Councillor van der Ross.
Source: City Of Cape Town