‘Much more than a reading place’
Librarian bemoans great loss to community
BHEKI Mkhize was devastated as he watched thousands of books and other equipment go up in flames when the library he worked at was torched during a service-delivery riot two years ago.
Mkhize worked in the library in Ratanda township outside Heidelberg in Gauteng and loved every minute of it.
“It wasn’t only about the books, but also other services we provided to the people. Our library was the main information centre for the municipality,” he said.
The 38-year-old community activist was one of 11 librarians at the Lesedi municipality and the only male.
The library had served the community since 1998. When it was burnt to the ground during a municipal workers’ strike in 2012, about 11 000 books were lost.
The cost of the damage was calculated at akmost R3-million and included a photocopy-fax machine, 11 computers, largescreen television and furniture.
To Mkhize, the library was much more than a reading place.
“I don’t think people realised how much of a loss it would be
People need to be aware that when we burn these facilities, we will suffer
. . . We published information about upcoming projects [for the unemployed], as well as vacancies in the municipality,” he said.
Since then, he and his colleagues have been moved to other libraries in the area, including the main one in Heidelberg.
But Mkhize said he missed the familiar faces at his old library and interacting with peo- ple from his community, most of whom could not afford to travel to make use of library services elsewhere.
“Most of them cannot afford to come all the way here, although I see some faces at this library from time to time.
“It’s a problem now for kids in the township, because there is no longer that facility where they could meet in study groups as they used to.
“I miss that interaction with the pupils when they are working on projects.
“We used to invite crèches to bring their kids so that we can expose them to the world of books.”
Mkhize started off as a member of the library’s ground staff and eventually landed a job inside.
He said whereas most of his colleagues were “old aunties” who were passionate about literature, he saw the library as a tool to empower the youth in his neighbourhood.
“It was heartening to see young boys get up from the street corners and come to the library to use the internet. And before you knew it, they formed support groups to come up with ways of making a living.
“I have seen a lot of changes in people who attended that library. Some were unemployed and came in daily just to look at employment opportunities on the notice board, but they ended up reading books.
“People need to be aware that when we burn these facilities, we will suffer.”