Ahead of National Library Week, local libraries have made creative displays to honour their roles in communities among many other literacy-approved surprises up their sleeves:
South Africa (11 March 2024) — In anticipation of South African National Library Week, local libraries have a few surprises up their sleeves (pun intended!) to celebrate the week that honours them and their place as the beating heart of many communities.
Booked for 18-24 March, South African Library Week (SALW) marks a time for libraries to take the spotlight and get some extra love while encouraging new visitors to make use of these sanctuaries (and maybe donate some preloved books that might just become the reason a stranger falls in love with reading).
This year, SALW also runs at the same time as Fine Free Week, which means that those who haven’t returned outstanding items can do so without paying any fines—a welcomed sigh of relief for anyone who’s sweated over an overdue book in Cape Town.
Under the theme for this year’s South African Library Week ‘Libraries Foster Social Cohesion’ many libraries in Cape Town have proudly created clever displays to embody this ethos—their unsung badge of honour. The beautiful irony of a library after all, is that they are both a place for solitude and community in a single space.
Adriaanse Library for one have created a hive to showcase the busy bees that make all their community work possible, while Goodwood Library took a literal ‘all hands on deck approach’ to the theme. Elsies River Library made a creative display using recycled items to depict their role as the ‘glue of the community’.
Not only are the Cape Town libraries getting dressed up; many will also be participating in the City’s 2024 Open Book Festival story-times, workshops, illustrators and even writing crash courses will be on the cards for Pinelands Langa and Wynberg Library among others from 13-20 March.
And if you happen to hear eager footsteps drumming through the streets on Friday in the Mother City, it’ll be because the libraries are marching in celebration of their week.
Libraries outside of Cape Town, let us know what you’re getting up to by sending us any exciting projects or displays on info@goodthingsguy.com, we’d love to celebrate you!
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