No launch pad for local authors
I AM AN author of a book titled Indian Buses, published in 2012, which captured the history, the memories and the personalities of these transport pioneers. This is the first book on the subject in the history of South African transport and buses since this mode of travel began in 1919. In my opinion, I have been let down by my own city library who have made me lose the passion to continue writing books. I write this with a very heavy heart.
Recently, at Musgrave Library, I was left dumbstruck and I had to question myself if I was the right racial group to be an author.
On a book shelf in the library I could not help but notice two copies of the same book titled, Louisvan Gaal – the autobiography. The book was written by an international author Maarten Meijer.
Every time I asked the library head office to purchase my book because of its historical significance, they said they did not have a budget. My book was published in 2012. The book on Van Gaal was published in 2016.
The Musgrave Library had my book but someone stole it from the shelves. The library has not replaced it and those children or adults wanting to learn about Durban`s transport history are in the dark.
Most of the eThekwini librarians don’t even know about the history of Durban`s private bus industry, yet they are supposed to be imparting knowledge.
Why can’t my book be placed in the children’s section as well? Why does it have to be a reference book hidden behind the librarians’ desks? If you can’t see the book, who would read it?
Who is Van Gaal? Before he became the manager of Manchester United, Durbanites cared less about him. Van Gaal managed Manchester United from May 2014 to May 2016 and won one trophy. The media-driven English Premier League made him out to be some sort of football god.
The library system also fell head over shoulders and was persuaded by the soccer media coverage of Manchester United. How does this book educate the youth or adult? You can get all Van Gaal details on Wikipedia but you will never find anything on the research I have undertaken. My research is too vast. This is not a case of sour grapes but a fact on the hardship I faced.
This was the second time I was crushed emotionally.
Four years ago when I went to the eThekwini reference library in Aliwal Street I noted that they had several books on the London Buses and buses in Britain and buses in England’s suburbs.
They did not have my book on the shelves and the librarian had no knowledge that the book existed.
Several months after publishing my book I had to set up a special meeting with the eThekwini libraries to buy my book and they looked at every fault and aspect of the book. Eventually, they took a small order that did not even cover a third of their libraries.
This is what it’s like to be an emerging author in Durban. Why must we keep reading about the rest of the world’s history and egotistical autobiographies of people who don’t matter? The municipal libraries should be a launch pad for local authors and should go a step further by promoting our history and books around the world. ZAINUL DAWOOD
Durban