After 28 years in the same space, Biblionef South Africa is moving. Before we close the door on our first home, we took a look back at the people, books and memories that filled it.

Biblionef South Africa has been in the same premises since 1998. For almost three decades, this has been where books arrived, were sorted and prepared for distribution. It is where meetings were held, programmes were planned, partnerships began, and countless boxes of books made their way out into communities across South Africa. A lot has changed since 1998, but this space has been a constant.

The people

Of course, an office is only a collection of walls until people fill it. Over the years, many people have walked through these doors. Some stayed for years, and others were here for a short time. Together, they became part of Biblionef’s story.

The work behind the books

Many books have passed through these doors. Since 1998, Biblionef has distributed more than two million books across South Africa, in English and South African home languages. Many of those books passed through this very space before beginning their journey to a child, classroom, library or community.

The moments we celebrated

Over the years, our office became more than a place to work; it was also a place to gather. We celebrated book launches, welcomed partners and guests, marked milestones, and said goodbye to colleagues as they retired. There were celebrations, speeches, cake, laughter and plenty of photographs. Looking back, these moments are just as much a part of this space’s story as the day-to-day work that happened here.

The goodbye

And then, after 28 years, it was time to pack.

As the office emptied, the reality of the move began to sink in. Shelves that had held books for so many years were bare, and rooms that had been part of our daily working lives suddenly felt very different.

There is a lot of history in these walls. So many people have passed through this office, and so much of Biblionef’s work has started here. We have spent 28 years in this space, and leaving it is understandably bittersweet.

We are grateful for the years we have had here and for all the memories we are taking with us. Now, we are ready to begin the next part of Biblionef’s story from our new home.

A thank you to Sasnev

We thank Sasnev for providing Biblionef with a home for the past 28 years. We are grateful for the space and for the support we have received during our time there. A special thank you goes to Eureka Barnard, whose kindness and support have meant a great deal to us over the years.

Thank you, SASNEV, for being part of Biblionef’s story. We leave with gratitude and many good memories.

The future

Our next chapter starts here.

Our new office is our new home, and while the surroundings have changed, the work remains the same. We will continue working with our partners and supporters to get quality books into the hands of children and to support the teachers, practitioners and organisations who help them learn and grow. We look forward to making new memories, building new partnerships, and seeing what the next chapter holds.

Thank you for being part of our journey.