Library staff improve service in lockdown
Parow facility’s staff come up with new ideas before reopening
AS LIBRARIES and museums officially reopened in the province this week, Parow Library staff have shared their experience of running their facility during the lockdown and remaining relevant while physically unavailable.
“With the easing of the national lockdown restrictions, we at Parow Library have seen first-hand how much the public has longed for the library,” staff member Jacinta Avontuur said.
“What we quickly realised is that the library is far more than just a building we operate in, or the books we have on our shelves. The library is a community meeting point, a hub of information and social interaction.
“Perhaps we already knew this but needed a global pandemic to remind us,” said Avontuur.
Another staff member, Marvin Williams, said the lack of patrons allowed them the opportunity to shelf-read and weed out unusable books.
“Things we generally only have a few hours to do each month.
“We have also been able to introduce a ‘surprise bundle’ for young primary school children, where we put together a package of 10 books based on their age and reading level; author comparisons (who writes like whom) to assist with digital browsing; as well as to keep the public connected with the staff via human interest posts,” said Williams.
In line with the reopening of public spaces in the province, Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC Anroux Marais visited the Shipwreck Museum and the public library in Bredasdorp, as well as the Caledon Museum and Public Library in the Overberg district municipality this week, to assess protocol compliance to safely move forward in the sector’s new normal.
Known as the “Graveyard of the ships”, with about 130 shipwrecks off the Southern Cape coast since 1673, the dangerous section of coast is well documented at the Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum, as well as the rich history of the area.
“Our valued visitors are more than welcome to safely visit the Shipwreck Museum whose primary maritime theme is shipwrecks along the dangerous Southern Cape coast and their influence on the development of the Overberg district municipality as experienced today. It is well worth the stop,” Marais said.
She also thanked library staff for their hard work.
“It truly is motivating to witness first-hand the passion and selfless dedication shown by our front-line library staff, who have gone over and above the call of duty to serve those who call the Western Cape home, through the largest library network in South Africa; proactively committed to empowering the communities they form the very heart of. Thank you is indeed an understatement,” Marais said.
Meanwhile, the District Six Museum continues to call for support to help keep its doors open following the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nal’ibali, the national reading- for- enjoyment campaign is offering library staff nationwide the opportunity to complete a free online reading-for-enjoyment training course – at no data cost.
The short course will help librarians set up a regular reading club or story hour, engage with reluctant readers and make informed choices about children’s books. Visit www.nalibali. mobi for more information.