Premier Winde and Minister Marais empower Velddrift with new Noordhoek Library

Today, following the 2022 State of the Province Address, together with Executive Mayor: Alderman Ray Van Rooyen, Premier Alan Winde and Minister Anroux Marais officially opened the new Noordhoek Public Library in Velddrif.

Centrally located in the community of Velddrif, the new library facility boasts:

• Added space of 195sq.m
• More computers
• Bigger area for small children
• Free internet access
• Total number of books stands at 10, 773
• Regular visits from schools for story hour

An I-CAN LEARN partnership, an initiative of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, in partnership with IBM and Google, that provides digital skills courses to the public at selected Libraries and Youth Cafés across the province.

At the official opening, the Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, said: “Libraries have an amazing way of bringing people together and also helping us, personally, to achieve our fullest potential by giving us access to knowledge – whether through books or internet access. As a bookworm myself, it is great to see that this expansion will ensure more computers, a bigger area for children and an activity hall for holiday programs but also a safe learning area for high school learners and students.”

Premier Winded added: “As community hubs, libraries create enabling environments for communities to come together to celebrate and enjoy, but also tackle issues faced. In this case, the Noordhoek Public Library will further provide drugs awareness and training in its new activity hall, as well as 16 day-of-activism information sessions for women. I want to commend the Provincial Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports (DCAS), under the leadership of Minister Anroux Marais, for their work in maintaining and improving these important community hubs.”

Minister Marais said, "Officially opening the new Noordhoek Public Library in the Bergrivier Municipality today, translates to more communities empowered and uplifted through library services. Further to education, health and economic opportunities are factors contributing to the strategic goals of the Provincial Safety Plan and affording those in our care with gainful opportunities. By providing access to information, libraries support communities in exploring and challenging barriers, values, and behaviours as these relate to social integration. More importantly, libraries engage communities on matters of social importance and encourage the social inclusion of all while creating safer spaces in which all who call it home can flourish.

To the community of Velddrif, while the wait was a bit longer due to the pandemic, this is not the Western Cape Government's library nor the Municipality's, it is FOR YOU, for the community, for your children and for a brighter future to become all you can".

The DCAS is committed to increasing wellness, social inclusion and safer spaces through greater participation in social and community life by using libraries as information and connection centres. We thank the Western Cape Library Service for contributing to the creation of opportunities for growth and jobs by facilitating the roll out of broadband and expansion of free internet connectivity and technology resources in public libraries for rural communities.