New books for DV’s ill-resourced library

CULTIVATING a reading culture and preserving literature were identified as vital to the longevity of libraries at the Duncan Village community library book handover ceremony on Friday.

The library was chosen as the starting point by the National Council of Provinces’ (NCOP) Taking Parliament to the People programme rolled out last year.

NCOP house chairman for Committees, Oversight and Intergovernmental Relations (IGR), Archibold Nyambi, who presided over the handover, said it had been decided that the Duncan Village library would be the first to receive books, due to the dire shortage of materials at the facility.

“During our programme, we saw the challenges and shortages at this library, and we made the undertaking to deliver these books,” Nyambi said.

Nyambi also said that having worked with a number of Eastern Cape stalwarts, he knew “the talent inherent in the province”.

“Whenever I come here and see the challenges here, I know the potential that lies here, the leaders found here and the capacity to overcome”.

The books that were handed over fell under a wide range of genres – including novels, business and economic books, as well as political reads, which Nyambi said “deal with a wide range of societal issues”.

In celebration of Africa month, material included in the books featured indigenous culture by African authors.

Nyambi said the handover was befitting of the 20th anniversary of the NCOP’s existence, as its key mandate was to be people-centred in its operations.

NCOP member and former BCM mayor, Zukiswa Ncitha said the focus should be on educating young people in ways relevant to them, striking a balance between the digital age and a reading culture.

“We need to help young people identify role models who will build them up. It is important to keep up with the development of young people. Libraries must be able to maintain relevance,” she said.

Ncitha, who talked about the council’s future development plans for the library, prioritised its security.

Nestled between Duncan Village and shack-riddled Gompo, there have been a number of break-ins at the library.

Provincial education portfolio committee chairman Fundile Gade said: “Resourcing this library and making it an attractive and viable centre of knowledge production within the Duncan Village community was on the list of priorities.”

Gade also emphasised the need to preserve the country and province’s histories through reading material.

“Giving priority to home and African languages in institutions is vital in inspiring people to write their own stories which will capture African history and benefit future generations,” he said. — dispatch.co.za writings