Read between the lines
As Kindles and Tablets take world by storm, do libraries still serve a need in our communities, and if so whose needs are they serving, asks
IREMEMBER the first time I walked into a library. I was a fresh-faced six-year-old wearing school shoes and a blazer a size too big, holding onto my teacher’s hand for dear life.
My first glance inside left me feeling overwhelmed. All I saw were skyscraper-like shelves filled with rows and rows of books and green heaps – which I later learnt were school children in their green school uniform hunched over books – all surrounded by a deafening silence.
The first book I picked up was about a cat in a box and, to this day, I can describe the illustration which greeted me when I opened the first page, in perfect detail: It had six whiskers, a bright red nose, two pointy ears and a mouth that turned into a smile.
I spent the next five years travelling all around the world, eating foreign cuisine and wearing exotic clothes, all from the comfort of my couch, carried away by my imagination.
I was completely lost to books, a feeling generations to come may never experience.
These days Tablets, Kindles and e-Books – to those who can afford them – have replaced books, while those still using libraries today complain about the state of the buildings and book offerings.
This begs the question: Are libraries still relevant in society today?
President of the Library and Information Association of South Africa, Mandla Ntombela, says libraries are still a vital part of society.
“No technology will ever take away from the print information which is available in books. Books serve as archives of information which, when looked after well, can last for generations,” he said.
“I also serve as the chairman of public libraries in Africa and from what I have seen, South Africa has the best libraries on the continent, although a lot more could be done to improve the state of public libraries.
“As an organisation, we are in the process of improving facilities in libraries across the country by ensuring they get ICT facilities. I’m talking about access to computers and internet. We need to remember that libraries are not just about books but are for resources too,” he added.
Ntombela said there was a marked difference between an adult who had visited a library as a child and one who had not.
“This usually shows itself when the child reaches higher education. “They may struggle when they have to access information or to use the libraries’ resources. Libraries also remain important, because they make access to reading that much easier. A society that does not read is in danger. Libraries offer free books to the public which we urge people to make use of.
“It’s for these reasons that libraries are very much relevant and useful in society and will remain so for a long time to come,” Ntombela added.
In an effort to revive the library culture in East London, Buffalo City Metro mayor, Xola Pakati, started the Mayor’s Library Legacy Project, launched earlier this month.
Through the project, which is aimed at getting both young and old to read, a total of 500 000 books are to be collected from the public within five years.
These books are to be distributed to schools and libraries in the BCM region, including those in previously disadvantaged areas.
Speaking at the official launch which was held in Mdantsane’s NU10, last week, Pakati said reading strengthened a nation through its access to knowledge.
“The main purpose of this project is to try and get the youth into reading books and away from the bad, such as the use of drugs,” he said.
“This is one of the ways to step away from poverty and hunger. That is why we, as the municipality, decided to embark on this journey.
“We are trying to encourage the use of libraries by all and we are dedicated to making this a reality. We have partnered with the department of education and the department of social development to see this through.”
Currently, the Metro spends a total of R2 068 553 towards its 17 libraries and two mobile libraries, with R886 528 going towards books, while R281 861 goes towards maintenance of buildings and equipment.
Despite this, an organisation called the Friends of the East London Library was formed in the early 1970s to raise funds, mainly for the purchase of audio-visual equipment and photocopiers.
BCM spokesman Sibusiso Cindi said: “At that time the library received a subsidy from provincial government only for the purchase of books, hence the need for funds to be raised for audiovisual equipment like projectors and television sets which would not be provided for libraries by the municipality.
“Friends of the East London Library organised extremely popular events such as book fairs, the first of which took place in 1980. Monthly talks were held at the Vincent Library which were well attended by members of the public,” Cindi said.
“The committee of Friends of the Library was disbanded in July 2008 when it was found the monthly functions were not making any sort of profit and members of the public were not keen to go out at night any more. Friends of the Library continues at the library, but in a very small role. There are still three photocopiers in the library which belong to Friends of the Library and will continue until the maintenance agreements expire,” he added.
Along with a scramble for resources the city’s biggest library, the Central Library, closed its reference section last year because of a staff shortage.
In a story which appeared in the Daily Dispatch in January 2015, 10 librarians who were questioned said there were a total of 23 vacancies, some dating back to 2012.
Cindi said this week a number of municipal directorates were short staffed, with the library one of them. “However, a new organogram has since been developed and we aim to fill all the critical posts urgently,” he said.
Buffalo City Metro libraries are not the only ones under threat.
In a story which appeared in The UK Guardian earlier this year, writer Elena Cresci said almost 350 libraries had closed across the UK.
“Many are fighting for their existence today, either being forced to closed or being run entirely by volunteers. The communities using them are fighting back – in South London, local residents occupied Carnegie library for more than a week in protest against its closure,” the story reads.
US writer Gary Kane said fewer people were borrowing books from New York City libraries.
Kane said of the 45.7 million users recorded in 2009, there were only 37.5 million recorded for this year, an 18% drop.
The relevance of libraries in their communities could well be down to the areas where libraries are located, the times they open and the services they offer.
Many BCM library-users complain about unkempt buildings, old reading material and inconvenient hours. Landi Lubbe said she wished the municipality would open a library in her area.
“I haven’t been to a library in a very, very long time. I wish we had a library in Southernwood, because the one in the city is too far to walk with the kids as we don’t have a car,” she said.
Loyiso Songelwa said he had not renewed his library card in years because the book offering always remained the same, while Anelisa Philemon said her local Mdantsane library opened late and closed early.
“We sometimes ask for specific books but are told they don't have them. There are about 10 computers there but most times there is no internet. We ask the librarians what’s happening but we never get any clear answers.”
The Saturday Dispatch visited two East London libraries this week, one based in Beacon Bay and the Central Library in the CBD.
Apart from a handful of children doing their homework, all was quiet in the Beacon Bay branch.
The Central Library was filled, mostly with kids, but adults too.
Simbulele Peter said he currently used the library to access the newspaper.
“I’m looking for a job right now so the library helps me a lot because I sometimes don’t have the money to buy the newspaper every day.
“I live with my family in Duncan Village right now so I just walk here every day to check if there’s anything new,” he said, while David Abraham said he made use of the library to get books for his children.
“This is a cheaper option than buying books because the library lets us exchange the books when the children are finished reading them. We come back every week wherever possible.” — zisandan@