“Read and Share” - Launch of National Book Week 2013

The value of reading and the important role it plays in a nation’s development was celebrated at the launch of National Book Week 2013 in Atlantis on Monday, 2 September 2013. The event was addressed by Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Dr Ivan Meyer, and prominent musician and brand ambassador for National Book Week, Chad Saaimaan. The women of Ikamva Labantu Book Club also entertained the crowd with their masterful storytelling during the launch.

Saaiman, a song writer and avid reader himself, urged people to make reading fun again. “We need to motivate people to read more, especially our children”, he said. Dr Meyer thanked librarians for their work to encourage reading in Atlantis. He said that his own experience showed that “it is through reading that you can empower yourself”. 

National Book Week is a joint initiative by the South African Book Development Council (SABDC) and the National Department of Arts and Culture held every year to celebrate books and the love of reading. The theme for this year’s event is “Read and Share”.

The Western Cape Library Service hosted an exhibition from 2 to 5 September 2013 at Atlantis City Mall, a great opportunity for people who are not currently regular library users to realise the many treasures that libraries have to offer and join their local libraries.