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As part of the Library Week celebrations, all the 89 libraries in the City of Johannesburg will have a fine-free period during which residents can return overdue books without penalties.
This year, the fine-free period will run from 19–29 March 2018. The objective of the amnesty period is to encourage the community to return overdue books and to reinstate defaulted membership.
South Africa Library Week is celebrated annually during March. During this period, librarians across the country host special programmes to highlight the services and resources offered at libraries.
Libraries are at the heart of their communities and offer vital resources that address community needs. The City of Joburg has a network of 89 libraries that offer essential services that help people and neighbourhoods thrive and are places where the community gathers.
Some of the services that are offered at Joburg libraries are internet access, homework assistance, story times for toddlers, school holiday and language programmes. Libraries also provide free accessible space for people to study and information resources.
Over and above the services that the City’s libraries provide, they also play a critical role in education and lifelong learning through its literacy programmes targeted at primary school children. The libraries reading programmes play a critical role in instilling a culture of reading and learning amongst school children in a way that is enjoyed by the learners.
The Story Skirmish and Battle of the Books are book based competitions aimed at broadening primary school children’s reading experience and to improve reading skills.
Residents are encouraged to visit their nearest library to find out about the different services on offer. All the City libraries are participating in the national library week and will have services such as introduction to e-learning and e-resources, poetry reading, story time for toddlers and essay-writing competition.
For more information and the schedule of activities, please contact Maryna Moolman on 011 226 0935/32 or email: marynam@joburg.org.za
