Angry crowd also wants treats
IT WAS more about the free treats than the books when a new library was opened in Ritchie yesterday, as a large crowd of community members tried to force their way into the premises to receive the snack parcels being handed out.
The Ritchie library was opened yesterday by Northern Cape Premier Sylvia Lucas, but while she was in a white tent delivering her keynote address, dozens of community members tried to force their way through the library gates, apparently in an attempt to get their hands on the parcel containing a fruit, cooldrink, sweets and crisps.
Security officials had their hands full in controlling the crowd wanting to enter, even after the ribbon cutting had already been done and Lucas had delivered her address in the filled-to-capacity tent.
“We also want oranges. Where are our sweets?” the angry crowd shouted after being denied entry to the premises by security officials from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), who responded by saying that they were only “following orders”.
The angry crowd was referring to the small food parcels handed out to children attending the opening of the library.
DSAC spokesperson, Conrad Fortune, yesterday denied that anyone was refused entry but added A WHOLE NEW WORLD: The Premier of the Northern Cape Sylvia Lucas yesterday officially opened the new library in Ritchie. Picture: Danie van der Lith that this could have been done in order to “control crowds” and “prevent a stampede”.
During her address, Lucas said that libraries were institutions built to strengthen, enhance and develop individuals; seeking to improve lives and unlock the power of information and opportunity.
“Libraries are the nucleus of communities - where community members, parents and children gain access to government information, to newspapers wherein jobs are advertised and where pupils and students can gain access to information on the internet.
“Libraries are also places that must be open to everybody, irrespective of race, colour or creed. It is a place where social cohesion and nation building can be enhanced and promoted,” Lucas stated.
She added that the building of all new libraries in close proximity to schools was “very important to alleviate the pressing need for information by pupils, especially disadvantaged communities”.
“The pupils from the surrounding schools will benefit from these facilities. Our poor communities do not have the financial resources to buy computers and other information material, but they have a pressing need to have access to information. It is access to the information that remains key to personal development and the improvement of social, economic, technical and scientific skills that are needed in the labour market.
“For many communities in South Africa, it is only public libraries which provide free access to computers and the internet. The library we are opening here today will open the doors to free internet connectivity and technology resources to and for the less privileged communities.”
Lucas also emphasised the importance of reading.
“Reading and writing opens up new worlds, reveals new ideas and suggests new opportunities. Reading books should not just be used as an avenue to pass the time. It is an integral part of our struggle to be a free and prosperous nation. A culture of reading will contribute towards a life-long desire to learn and develop oneself intellectually, emotionally, and culturally. We therefore need vibrant community libraries, stocked with new, relevant books across all subjects - to assist people improve their skills and to prepare themselves better for their professions,” Lucas concluded.