Overview

Overview
About Us The Library and Information Services Directorate is the local gateway to knowledge and provides basic access for education and lifelong learning as well as intellectual development for all citizens in the City. City of Johannesburg public libraries are hubs of education, giving residents access to books, magazines and audio-visual materials to assist with studies, career, and business or personal development. Besides lending out material, the City’s 89 libraries offer a wide-range of other services including literacy classes, storytelling sessions for youngsters, classroom support, gatherings for older residents and literary competitions. Libraries also provide venues for lectures, exhibitions, community meetings and organized training sessions. The Directorate is responsible for the following: Digital Literacy in communities to bridge the digital divide and provide access to global information resources to the citizens of the City through eLearning programmes; Collection and maintenance of books and other library materials; Facilitate literacy and numeracy initiatives/programmes Development of a database of these materials to locate information and to enable and support the delivery of services and programmes to the public (bibliographic management); Promote and develop a reading culture amongst children, youth and families; Improve skills support such as science and technology awareness, career development services, business information support, information literacy support and reference and research support.
Services Facilitate Literacy Provision of free and safe library access to deliver lending services, educational support, reference and research services, and study space; Provision of free and guided access to knowledge and information to assist users of all ages in their need for information, education, recreation and lifelong learning; Reading promotion such as storytelling, holiday programs, displays and reading programs to encourage reading and learning. Programme Implementation: Digital Literacy in communities to bridge the digital divide and provide access to global information resources to the citizens of the City through eLearning programmes; Collection and maintenance of books and other library materials; Facilitate literacy and numeracy initiatives/programmes; Development of a database of these materials to locate information and to enable as well as to support the delivery of services and programmes to the public (bibliographic management); Promote reading and the development of a reading culture amongst children, youth and families; Improve skills support such as science and technology awareness, career development services, business information support, information literacy support and reference and research support Library Services Provision of free and safe library access to deliver lending services, educational support, reference and research services, and study space. Provision of free and guided access to knowledge and information to assist users of all ages in their need for information, education, recreation and lifelong learning; Support reading and writting development to encourage reading, creative writting and learning. Programme implementation eLearning ( digital information services, digital literacy activities) Education and Information Literacy Reading Development Programs Extended Services to correctional services, old age homes, and places of safety Outreach services to ECD centres, schools and home based centres Collection development and management. eLearning Services The City of Johannesburg eLearning Services were introduced into the library environment to ensure the inclusion of the communities of the City of Joburg in the digital economy. What is elearning? The concept of elearning is generelly defined as “the use of technologies to support learning and teaching”. It allows for accessnto learning content from PCs, laptops, tablets/ipads and smart pones, both online and offline. It can happen within a classroom environment or visual access(digital access) to learning materials, and it is not restricted by physical location or set lesson times. What is eLearning in the City of Johannesburg? In City of Johannesburg Libraries, eLearning refers to the support provided by the libraries through electronic tools such as computers, tablets, facilities such as elearning classrooms and training on how to access electronic information by provision of free internet. ELearning services offered in City of Johannesburg Libraries Free WI-FI in libraries is enabled by the citys wi-fi, where as a library user you can access information on the internet using your own smart device. You can bring your smart device such as laptop, your cellphone, your tablet and etc to access free wifi at your library in a safe environment. This means you do not have to travel far to town or visit internet cafes or hotspots in an unsafe area. At the library you can ask for assistance to find websites and apps that can help you in your studies or business or for your self development. ELearning classrooms are equipped elearning facilities within selected libraries, where library users participate in organised activities and informal digital literacy activities. In the eLearning classrooms you can type, print or save documents. You can access uploaded content to be used offline- for example Microsoft Digital Literacy modules and coding videos. You can participate in various digital literacy activities and events such as coding, and computer skills training. In classrooms where there is internet, you can even send emails and look for jobs or do your school or college assignments. Library staff can also suggest websites to use for studies, career, and business or personal growth. You can search for online courses from various institutions available on different search portals or from website. eResources (ebooks, online journals, online magazines and online newspapers). eResources Library users can access online resources that are subscribed to, by City of Johannesburg libraries, such as e-books, online newspapers and articles from our electronic resources collection. Library staff are always available to help you to access eresources from your own device or from the library computers.