Library Service: 60th Celebration

Did you know that the Western Cape Government Library Service is the biggest network of its kind in Africa? This alone calls for a celebration but we are also having a major celebration on 30 and 31 July 2015 for the 60^th anniversary of this unique service that connects communities in the Western Cape. 

In 1955 the Library Service included both the Northern and Eastern Cape provinces.  Currently we are the proud owners of a network of 361 library service points.  This includes 292 public libraries, 42 mini libraries and 27 depots with sufficient stock available to the 1,2 million registered users in the Western Cape. The most important ‘asset’ of the service is, of course, the 223 staff members, EPWP beneficiaries and PAY interns.

Some of the staff members were very outspoken about the 60^th celebrations; Neville Adonis could hardly hide his enthusiasm: “It is a journey to work at Library Service and an exciting adventure to be part of the project team that  is responsible for the logistics of the 60^th celebrations”, says Adonis.

Director of Library Service Nomaza Dingayo says that the network’s success is a demonstration of healthy partnerships with the 25 municipalities in the Western Cape, the national Department of Arts and Culture, the Library and Information Association of South Africa, the National Library of South Africa and also the other provincial libraries in the country. “We are transforming libraries into techno hubs where the people can feel at home.  Providing free broadband internet access and the plans to roll out wi-fi hotspots will change the lives of communities for the better,” says Dingayo.

The celebrations, amongst others, saw a historical display in the foyer of the Hospital Street entrance of the offices of Library Service and the publication of a special edition of the bi-monthly Cape Librarian magazine.

We encourage you to take the celebration to another level. If you are not yet a member of one of our libraries, please don’t hesitate - join your local library and become part of this legendary network.  Our libraries have a wealth of knowledge and stories and connect you to other people, ideas and information!