Libraries Archives - Good Things Guy https://www.goodthingsguy.com/tag/libraries/ Wed, 28 May 2025 09:41:25 +0000 en-ZA hourly 1 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cropped-gtg_favicon-32x32.png Libraries Archives - Good Things Guy https://www.goodthingsguy.com/tag/libraries/ 32 32 Linden Librarian’s Super Idea for Greener Libraries  https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/linden-librarians-super-idea-for-greener-libraries/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/linden-librarians-super-idea-for-greener-libraries/#respond Wed, 28 May 2025 12:00:03 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=152508

A Linden Librarian’s exciting vision make public libraries greener and more beneficial to communities has earned her international recognition.   Linden, South Africa (28 May 2025) — A Linden Librarian’s...

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A Linden Librarian’s exciting vision make public libraries greener and more beneficial to communities has earned her international recognition.

 

Linden, South Africa (28 May 2025) — A Linden Librarian’s super idea to help libraries benefit communities more in the greenest way has caught and held international attention. Ms Tebello Sengora thinks that underused library spaces are gardens waiting to be created, something that could well benefit library patrons as well as encourage new members from the broader community.

Recently, Ms Sengora received an Honourable Mention at the 2025 Next Festival held in Denmark for her idea dubbed ‘The Green Shelf Network’.

An international event, the Next Library Festival takes a look at libraries in the future; inviting visionaries within library spaces across the world to share their thoughts as to how the libraries of tomorrow could and should look for the betterment of learning.

The Linden Librarian’s Green Shelf Network caught the attention of the festival. Per Joburg Libraries, the idea is to transform libraries into “modular gardens that connect communities with nature, literacy and sustainability.” How iconic is that?

Importantly, residents of Johannesburg would be hugely involved in the gardens from design to maintenance and crop-sharing in an effort to hold firm community buy-in and pride.

“This interactive experience not only beautifies library spaces and feeds communities, but also fosters a connection between nature, culture, health and even technology,” Joburg Libraries praised.

Ms Sengora was selected for the Honourable Mention as part of the 2025 Changemaker Award category which was introduced this year. The Changemaker Award honours thinkers whose focus orbits innovation.

She was one of just six out of 23 countries awarded with an honourable mention, including an Ireland representative’s idea to ‘take the library to the streets’.


Sources: Joburg Libraries 
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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Johannesburg City Library Begins Reopening After Lengthy Hiatus! https://www.goodthingsguy.com/opinion/johannesburg-city-library-begins-reopening-after-lengthy-hiatus/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/opinion/johannesburg-city-library-begins-reopening-after-lengthy-hiatus/#respond Mon, 24 Mar 2025 09:29:18 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=146889

Following an extended 5-year hiatus, the Johannesburg City Library is finally turning to its comeback chapter! The library has begun reopening at long last, cracking its doors open for the...

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Following an extended 5-year hiatus, the Johannesburg City Library is finally turning to its comeback chapter! The library has begun reopening at long last, cracking its doors open for the first time in ages on Human Rights Day.

 

Johannesburg, South Africa (24 March 2025) — The Johannesburg City Library has finally ended its lengthy and contested hiatus by partially reopening! On Human Rights Day last Friday, the library cracked its doors open to the delight of readers, civic advocates and communities all over Jozi. 

Front and centre at the reopening were the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation (JHF) and the Johannesburg Crisis Alliance (JCA)—driving forces behind the call to action to get the library back up and running.

“The staggered re-opening is long overdue, following an extended 5-year closure which severely affected the local community, students, researchers, academics, etc,” the JHF and JCA share in a statement.

Access to the Johannesburg City Library was first inhibited on account of the pandemic, and its official closure came about in 2021 due to structural safety concerns.

However, in 2024, the public demand for the library’s re-opening reached a boiling point, with protesters calling for answers and action from the City of Johannesburg. The City responded by saying it would commit to reopening the library—a promise that is seemingly coming to fruition.

As the library was a huge point of accessibility to information for many (it boasted over a million books, free wifi and workstations), its closure was reported as being a huge loss to the public.

“As a consequence of this civil action and the corresponding media attention, we are gratified that the authorities finally agreed to invite us to regular stakeholder meetings where progress reports were shared by the contractors and we were able to offer constructive input,” the JHF and JCA explain.

“As a result of this open and collaborative approach, we believe that together we have realised a positive outcome that will stand the library in good stead going forward. We furthermore encourage the authorities to continue following this productive approach as we tackle additional challenged faced by other city-owned heritage properties.”

The groups have also called on the authorities to make the costs of repairs thus far public as well as to act with urgency in re-opening several other branch libraries.

The full re-opening is anticipated to happen toward the middle of 2025.


Sources: Johannesburg Heritage Foundation; Johannesburg Crisis Alliance 
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Get Back into the Library’s Good Books With Fine Free Week https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/get-back-into-the-librarys-good-books-with-fine-free-week/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/get-back-into-the-librarys-good-books-with-fine-free-week/#respond Mon, 17 Mar 2025 13:06:15 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=146457

If you’ve been sitting with a book (or a few) from the library for far too long and have been avoiding facing the music of a late return, this is...

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If you’ve been sitting with a book (or a few) from the library for far too long and have been avoiding facing the music of a late return, this is your chance to get back in the library’s good books. It’s Fine Free Week, which means you’ll be able to return any library items scot-free!

 

South Africa (17 March 2025) — They sit patiently on our shelves as we avoid making eye contact. They’re the trigger to late-night anxiety, the to-do list item that falls to the bottom of the list, and the ‘I’ll get to it tomorrow’ that lurks in the back of our minds. Yes, our over-due library books are a guilt-inducing bunch, even more so when you’re very, very late to reunite them with the library. If only there were a Fine Free Week in which you could sneak back to the library peacefully…

Well, there is. And if you’re looking to get back into your local library’s good books, this would be the time to do it!

As part of South African National Library Week (running from 17 to 23 March), borrowers can return over-due library items scot-free through Fine Free Week.

This means no penalties, no fuss and no more late-night anxiety or fears of running into your librarian in public.

In Cape Town, there are 40,112 overdue items, estimated at a value of R4.6 million!

“Every returned book means another child gets to experience that story, or another student can prepare properly for exams,” says Mayco Member for Community Services and Health, Francine Higham.

“Returning these materials isn’t about avoiding fines, it’s about strengthening our community resources. We encourage all residents to help these outstanding books, CDs, DVDs and magazines find their way home.”

“Think of this as a library amnesty week. No questions asked and no penalties applied. We simply would like the more than 40,000 missing items back in circulation where they can benefit everyone in our community.”

Jeff Kinney’s ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ series dominates the most-wanted list for another year, with 30 copies of ‘Wrecking Ball’ alone waiting to find their way home.

A Love Letter to South African Libraries

Beyond giving borrowers a clean slate, South African National Library Week is also a love letter to local libraries that encourages new membership and spotlights library roles in our communities.

This year’s theme is ‘Celebrating Sustainable Communities’. In Cape Town, libraries across the city are hosting upcycling workshops (to teach creative ways to reuse materials), panel discussions on building greener cities, literature story times and digital literacy sessions for all ages!

“Libraries are the ultimate example of a sustainable community resource. One book can educate and entertain hundreds of people over its lifetime; but only if it’s available on our shelves,” adds Councillor Higham.

So, make a comeback, join in as a new member or simply stop by to celebrate with your favourite library.


Sources: Supplied 
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Seven Friends Plan Cycle Trip from Soweto to Kimberley to Raise Money for Libraries https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/seven-friends-plan-cycle-trip-from-soweto-to-kimberley-to-raise-money-for-libraries/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/seven-friends-plan-cycle-trip-from-soweto-to-kimberley-to-raise-money-for-libraries/#respond Fri, 14 Mar 2025 06:30:36 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=146223

Cyclists plan to cover 600km to raise R100,000 for two local school libraries.   Soweto, South Africa (14 March 2025) — Soweto-based entrepreneur Mpumelelo Mtintso and six friends are planning...

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Cyclists plan to cover 600km to raise R100,000 for two local school libraries.

 

Soweto, South Africa (14 March 2025) — Soweto-based entrepreneur Mpumelelo Mtintso and six friends are planning a five-day bicycle journey from Soweto in Johannesburg to Kimberley in the Northern Cape to raise R100,000 for two local school libraries in need of upgrades.

“We love cycling, we love reading, and we love helping our community, so this cycling adventure brings all these things together,” said Mtintso.

Dubbed the “TourDeLibraries”, the 600km journey on asphalt and gravel will start on 17 March. The cyclists hope to arrive in Kimberley on Human Rights Day, 21 March.

“We have been training hard, there are a few days where we will be riding well over 100km, so it’s going to be challenging on the legs,” laughs Mtintso.

A Soweto resident donates books to Mtintso outside the Book iBhoni office.

Born and raised in Soweto, Mtintso fell in love with bicycles as a child. An older relative lent him his bicycle and taught him how to ride. He says cycling gave him a sense of freedom to move around the township by himself.

In 2015 he started Book iBhoni, a business providing cycling and walking tours of Soweto for tourists. Mtintso describes himself as a social entrepreneur and frames his business as not just a for-profit enterprise but also something that uplifts his community.

His business has become known for collecting books and distributing them to local libraries in need. Books waiting to be sorted and distributed to libraries pile up on shelves at the Book iBhoni head office in Soweto. The business offers discounts on its tours for customers who donate books.

Born and raised in the township of Soweto, Mtintso fell in love with bicycles at a young age after an older relative loaned him his bicycle and taught him to ride it.

“I was raised by my grandmother who instilled in me a sense of ubuntu, respect, and giving back to your community. We feel like encouraging reading and helping our local libraries become enjoyable places for people to actively contribute to uplifting our township,” said Mtintso.

The Bethany Combined School in Klipspruit and Lodirile Primary School in Dobsonville are two schools the cycling crew wants to help upgrade their libraries.

“People have been supporting us, and we are hoping for more support so that we can make a difference, one library at a time,” said Mtintso.

The cyclists hope their adventure will also help raise awareness among drivers about road safety for cyclists and the need for improved cycling infrastructure to ensure the safety of riders.

“You know how the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. We were all raised by the village of Soweto and now we are giving back to the same village that raised us,” said Mtintso.

Founder of Book iBhoni, Mpumelelo Mtintso, pictured with a collection of donated books that will be sorted and handed over to local libraries depending on the needs of that specific library.

Sources: GroundUp
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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Rural Community of Bereaville Welcome New Library! https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/rural-community-of-bereaville-welcome-new-library/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/rural-community-of-bereaville-welcome-new-library/#respond Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:00:01 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=135623

The rural community of Bereaville have welcomed a new library of their own—a place positioned to be one of hope and multi-faceted opportunities for people of all ages that’s offering...

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The rural community of Bereaville have welcomed a new library of their own—a place positioned to be one of hope and multi-faceted opportunities for people of all ages that’s offering more than books!

 

Bereaville, South Africa (31 October 2024) — The rural community of Bereaville have welcomed what’s been described as a ‘significant milestone’ for them as the proverbial ribbon on their new library was cut last week.

For the people of the area, it’s a new space for them to access invaluable resources including and beyond books with internet access, recreational activities and educational opportunities afoot!

As such, the Bereaville Library acts as a multi-functional library that’s helping level the playing field for the community, as Mayor Tienie Zimmermann reflected, something that makes a significant and progressive difference for people who are largely disconnected from urbanisation.

It was a collaborative effort that saw the Western Cape Government’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Education, the Sustainable Development Department, as well as the Moravian Church, bring the library to life, knowing the significance of what a community hub of this nature can mean.

“Whether you are the young learner seeking knowledge, the job seeker accessing opportunities, or the community member looking for a space to connect, I hope this library offers you hope and the chance to dream,” the Mayor added.

Mayor Tienie further expressed that the impact of libraries on rural communities is immense.

“They are not merely spaces for books, but hubs of learning, growth, and social interaction. In rural areas like Bereaville, libraries play an even more crucial role. They provide essential access to education, technology, and information, bridging the gap for communities that are often underserved.”


Sources: Theewaterskloof Municipality; Western Cape Government Cultural Affairs and Sport 
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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Florida Welcomes ‘Mini Blind Library’; Turns a Page on Accessibility! https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/florida-welcomes-mini-blind-library-turns-a-page-on-accessibility/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/florida-welcomes-mini-blind-library-turns-a-page-on-accessibility/#respond Tue, 10 Sep 2024 09:00:33 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=130638

A new addition to Florida Library has helped turn a positive page on literacy accessibility in Johannesburg thanks to its new ‘Mini Blind Library’! Florida, South Africa (10 September 2024)...

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A new addition to Florida Library has helped turn a positive page on literacy accessibility in Johannesburg thanks to its new ‘Mini Blind Library’!

Florida, South Africa (10 September 2024) — A new addition to Florida Library has helped turn a positive page for literacy accessibility in Johannesburg by providing a means for the visually impaired community to enjoy the library’s informative riches.

In celebration of International Literacy Day celebrated on 8 September, Joburg Libraries announced that Florida Library had launched its very own ‘Mini Blind Library’ as made possible by the South African Library for the Blind (SALB) and Social Development.

SALB have helped transform the concept of a library in South Africa since 1919 when Josephine Wood met Miss Comber and a library based on braille volumes was ideated. Today, SALB provide free braille and audio books as well as training on the usage of these resources and device repairs for those who need them across our country.

An exciting addition to the Florida area, the initiative hopes to help the visually impaired and blind access information, as Joburg Libraries shares.

The Mini Blind Library offers a braille computer and document reader, which was unveiled to keen participants. Those in attendance were also informed on how to join the library to receive devices of their own, allowing them to listen to even more books from their own homes!

You can find out more about the SALB here. 


Sources: Joburg Libraries; SALB 
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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Strand Library Celebrates a Monumental Chapter: 120 Years! https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/strand-library-celebrates-a-monumental-chapter-120-years/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/strand-library-celebrates-a-monumental-chapter-120-years/#respond Mon, 02 Sep 2024 10:00:05 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=129933

Strand Library is finally old enough to sit at the ‘grown-ups table’ of Cape Town’s oldest libraries after it celebrated its 120th birthday!   Strand, South Africa (02 September 2024)—Librarians...

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Strand Library is finally old enough to sit at the ‘grown-ups table’ of Cape Town’s oldest libraries after it celebrated its 120th birthday!

 

Strand, South Africa (02 September 2024)—Librarians traded shushing motions for applause last week as the Strand Library celebrated 120 years of book-loving, caring and community.

Now, the library sits among other grand dames and pillars part of Cape Town’s historic library scene at the ‘grown-ups table’, including Woodstock Library (142 years old), Mowbray (137 years old), Rondebosch (128 years old) and Muizenberg (124-years-old).

What began as a little subscription library on 20 December 1904, occupying just a room in the Strand Town Hall, has grown, moved, enjoyed generations of members, and survived the rise of technology and a pandemic.

20 years after the little subscription library opened, it was decided that a bigger space was needed because the membership kept growing (a great problem to have). A new library was subsequently built in Wesley Street, where the ribbon was cut and the doors opened to the public on 3 September 1924. Later down the line in history, circa 1972, the municipality began building a new library on the corner of Mills & Piet Retief Street that would eventually join the Cape Provincial Library Service. This new library became a free municipal service and opened up for service two years later in 1924 on 29 August—Strand Library’s decided birthday!

Today, Strand Library boasts an impressive 5450 members and an annual circulation of nearly 200,000 items, with Colleen Hoover and Christelle Wessels being hot commodities along with recipe books.

Big, Recent Chapters for Strand Library:

2022

  • Launching a talking books service after teaming up with Tape Aids, making reading more accessible.
  • The 1000 Stories Before School outreach programmes to connect with communities through local clinics.

2023

  • Helping Hendrik Louw Primary School have access to books after the school’s library closed with weekly class visits.
  • Strand Library also won first runner-up in the Innovation Category at the LIS Service Recognition Awards that year.

2024

  • The library won the Customer Service Category at the LIS Service Recognition Awards.
  • And it was first runner-up for the Innovation Award at the same awards ceremony!

“It has been a beacon of hope and knowledge in the area and continues to provide an essential service to residents in the surrounding suburbs. Strand Library is about more than the books and other material. It’s a collection and reflection of history, and an important social meeting point.” – Councillor Patricia van der Ross, Mayco Member for Community Services and Health


Sources: Supplied
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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Little Duckling Knitting Club Celebrates Its First Birthday https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/little-duckling-knitting-club-celebrates-its-first-birthday/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/little-duckling-knitting-club-celebrates-its-first-birthday/#respond Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:00:33 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=124065

The Little Duckling Knitting Club has celebrated its very first birthday and a year of special Saturdays at the Durbanville Library!   Durbanville, South Africa (03 June 2024) — Every...

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The Little Duckling Knitting Club has celebrated its very first birthday and a year of special Saturdays at the Durbanville Library!

 

Durbanville, South Africa (03 June 2024) — Every Saturday, little knitters are given the opportunity to grow with new skills at the Durbanville Library. Like the amount of creations, the Little Duckling Knitting Club has grown beautifully and celebrated its first birthday over the weekend.

The dearly-loved library has has made creative space both for ducks (maturer knitters) and ducklings (little knitters), with each club having celebrated their first anniversaries this year.

The Knitting Duck Club (founded by Gail Leask) celebrated its first anniversary with a milestone moment—knitting 2000 beanies for Beanies 4 Babies in late April, giving premature little ones much-needed warmth. There, the group celebrated not only its creative output and awesome intentions but also its growth from a handful of members to a full class.

For the little ducklings, the order of the day was some colourful knitting and the renewed excitement of more creative projects to come. Further, volunteers and ‘Saturday Heroes’  like Natasha Jungbluth Smith who pours her passion into teaching the little knitters, were awarded with appreciation certificates for their efforts.

Knitting communities together and inspiring new passions takes a village, but with initiatives like this in action, we’re reminded that sometimes it just takes feeling part of something to make all the difference in the world.


Sources: Durbanville Library 
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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

 

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The City of Johannesburg Has Committed to Reopening The Joburg Library https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/the-city-of-johannesburg-has-committed-to-reopening-the-joburg-library/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/the-city-of-johannesburg-has-committed-to-reopening-the-joburg-library/#respond Fri, 24 May 2024 13:00:34 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=123637

After being closed for ages, there is real hope of the Joburg Library Opening once again!   Johannesburg, South Africa (24 May 2024) — It‘s been a long wait for...

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After being closed for ages, there is real hope of the Joburg Library Opening once again!

 

Johannesburg, South Africa (24 May 2024) — It‘s been a long wait for lovers of the Joburg Library after it officially closed its doors three years ago in May 2021 after 2020 where access to the community haven was already diminished over structural safety worries.

For members of the public including academics and students, the wait has been far too long, with public demand for reopening having reached a boiling point. Last weekend, protesters joined forces at Beyers Naude Square to call for action.

According to GroundUp, some those protesting wanted answers as to why the Library had been closed for so long, while others agreed that it was undemocratic for Joburgers not to be able to access the libraries wide array of books (a collection of over 1.5 million).

Beyond the books, there is free wifi and many workstations, as Daily Maverick reports, resources which are imperative to many citizens.

The call for action was largely spearheaded by Johannesburg Heritage Foundation and the Johannesburg Crisis Alliance, and the loss of the library has been felt by residents all over.

But, in hopeful news, the City of Johannesburg has responded, sharing that it is committed to reopening the Joburg Library once again.

The City of Joburg shared that it has “begun the procurement process to appoint service providers who will address critical fire safety concerns.”

“We recognise the importance of the Joburg City Library to the community…Preserving the archives, ensuring safety regulation compliance, and protecting both the community and library personnel are all crucial aspects. We are taking proactive steps to guarantee its reopening,” Councillor Lubabalo Magwentshu, MMC for Community Development shared. 

According to the City, the commitment to reopening was already announced during Mayco Member Dada Morero’s Budget Speech, but now with decision-making to do with the library in the spotlight, hope is high that Joburgers will get to walk through the Library’s doors once again.


Sources: Various, Linked Above 
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Ivory Park Library Helps Unemployed Youth Dive into the Digital World https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/ivory-park-library-helps-unemployed-youth-dive-into-the-digital-world/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/ivory-park-library-helps-unemployed-youth-dive-into-the-digital-world/#respond Fri, 10 May 2024 07:00:37 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=122884

Digital literacy development programmes are helping young unemployed people in Johannesburg, with Ivory Park Library lighting up with hope:   Johannesburg, South Africa (10 May 2024) — Libraries in Johannesburg...

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Digital literacy development programmes are helping young unemployed people in Johannesburg, with Ivory Park Library lighting up with hope:

 

Johannesburg, South Africa (10 May 2024) — Libraries in Johannesburg are becoming a place of upskilling thanks to the Digital Literacy Development rollout in parts of the City of Gold! This week, Ivory Park Library welcomed over 20 unemployed young community members to get introduced to the library website as the starting point of their digital literacy journeys.

“These young people, most of them have never touched a computer, they are unemployed, they live in a rough area (today there was no water) there is not much to do….but they are also looking for SOMETHING positive or someone to show them the possibilities to change their lives,” said Jeff Nyoka, eLearning Library services manager for the City.

There, the young and eager community members were able to register for different online courses making up the digital literacy session, where a demonstration of the online courses helped them navigate how to get Microsoft certificates, information about courses on CV creation, project management, and other helpful resources.

Ivory Park Library was the latest to experience the City of Joburg’s Library and Information Services eLearning initiative in action, with other Jozi libraries like Florida Library hosting digital programmes and workshops too.

“The most rewarding part of our work is when you witness impact in real time! Immediately! Just the confirmation that someone discovered new information or skill. Priceless!” Remarked Jeff, who added that the community are generally lovely and the youth are responsive. 

Given South Africa’s dire need for upskilling and digital skills growth, the eLearning initiative is something that not only reminds us why libraries are such important public resources but makes us dream about a more digitally savvy SA for everyone.


Sources: Joburg Libraries; Jeff Nyoka 
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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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