We have just completed a fantastic project whereby 3 Mobile Libraries in the Overberg District received a much needed supply of new books and 10 primary schools in the Free State received a new ‘Start up Library’.

Many schools in South Africa do not have libraries at their school and are situated far from public libraries leaving children unable to benefit from the advantages that libraries have to offer. The Mobile Libraries are therefore essential because it brings the books to the children and allows them to experience the library environment. The 3 Mobile Libraries we assisted are Swellendam Mobile Library, Elgin Mobile Library and Caledon Mobile Library; they service 36 primary schools in the Overberg area. Our donation has allowed 2077 children to have access to 654 new titles of storybooks and non-fiction materials in their mother-tongue, Afrikaans.

The 10 primary schools in the Free State were serviced by a Mobile Library every 2 weeks; however, the educators thirst for books on a more regular basis made them want their own Library and therefore approached Biblionef for assistance. We were able to provide a ‘Start up Library’ for all 10 schools; this is the next step (after Mobile Libraries) for schools that are ready to build their own fully stocked school library. Each school received a ‘Start up Library’ that included approximately 500 new storybooks Setswana; Sesotho and English; non-fiction books and reference materials.  Most of schools also received shelves to display the books and make the books easily accessible to the learners.

With this project, Biblionef was able to provide 5677 children access to 5676 new books in their mother tongue. A very special Thank You to Rotary Foundation, Rotary Sneek Zuid West and Rotary Claremont for funding this project; this could not have been achieved without your help.