1. The Department of Arts and Culture, in conjunction with the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA), have declared that South African Library Week (SALW) 2014 will be celebrated from 17-23 March 2014 with the theme "Celebrating Libraries in 20 years of Democracy: Check in @your library!"

2. This theme serves as an opportunity to focus attention on:
2.1 Celebrating the role of libraries during the 20 years of South African democracy.
2.2 Highlighting how libraries are making the right to freedom of access to information, as enshrined in the Bill of Rights, a reality.
2.3 Enhancing nation building and community development by opening the doors of learning to all.
2.4 Showcasing libraries as desired spaces for advancing literacy through the intellectual and aesthetic development of all ages. As well as providing access to global knowledge and information in different formats to advance research and create new knowledge.

3. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and LIASA’s School Library and Youth Services Interest Group (SLYSIG) are encouraging teachers and learners to celebrate South African Library Week by doing the following:
3.1 Visiting school libraries and public libraries during Library Week.
3.2 Posting "selfies" (photos of themselves) and "checking in" at libraries via one or more of the following social media platforms -

  • SLYSIG's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SLYSIG
  • SLYSIG's Twitter handle: @SLYSIG
  • LIASA News' Twitter handle: @LIASANews
  • Readabook SA's Twitter handle: @ReadaBookSA
  • WCED News' Twitter handle: @WCEDNews
3.3 Attending the public event that will take place at 10:00 on Saturday, 15 March 2014 in the Company Gardens to launch South African Library Week. The programme will include storytelling, games and other forms of artistic expression about libraries and what they mean.

4. Teachers are also encouraged to make use of the available WCED library and information services. These include the EDULIS Library Service (Head Office Library in Bellville, district resource centres, mobile libraries and depots) and the EDULIS School Library Service.
4.1 The following Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM) is available for individual loan by teachers, principals and district officials, or as block loans to schools:

  • Inspiring activity-based ideas for lesson plans, and literacy and numeracy development (many of which can be photocopied);
  • A wide range of curriculum support material;
  • A vast collection of recently published books on management and leadership;
  • Thought-provoking material in support of educational research and policy development;
  • Material covering critical current issues, e.g. literacy and numeracy, inclusion, discipline and behaviour problems, differentiation, HIV/AIDS, and foetal alcohol syndrome;
  • Learner-focused materials (including picture books and novels for learners of all ages), which have been specially evaluated and reviewed to help teachers select materials for their school libraries or use during reading periods; and
  • Multimedia, such as videos, DVDs, audiocassettes and CDs, covering a wide range of topics to enrich and support classroom teaching and learning.
4.2 The following EDULIS and district officials may be contacted regarding LTSM:

Susan Hanekom EDULIS Library, Bellville tel. 021 957 9617
Cheryl Joseph Kuils River Resource Centre,
Metro East Education District		 tel. 021 900 5111
Ntombi Mngxuma Brian O’Connell Resource Centre,
Metro South Education District		 tel. 021 370 2084
Jennifer Caroto Metro North Resource Centre,
Metro North Education District		 tel. 021 938 3197
Sara Clegg Makhosandile Ndzuzo Resource Centre,
Overberg Education District		 tel. 028 214 7387

5. The following School Library Services are available to teachers and schools:

  • Evaluation and recommendation of curriculum-related library resources to support literacy and numeracy programmes;
  • Guidance in purchasing library resources using Norms and Standards and own funding;
  • Reading promotion through school visits to conduct book talks;
  • Orientation sessions for school staff as part of their professional development;
  • Assistance with cataloguing library material for school libraries;
  • Support with the development and use of school libraries; and
  • Co-ordination of and support for training in basic school library administration for teachers in charge of school libraries.
6. The following district officials may be contacted regarding School Library Services:

Faith Lawrence School Library Adviser,
West Coast Education District		 tel. 021 860 1562
Janine Ontong School Library Adviser,
Cape Winelands Education District		 tel. 023 348 4657
Sara Clegg School Library Adviser,
Overberg Education District		 tel. 028 214 7387
Jennifer Caroto School Library Adviser,
Metro North Education District		 tel. 021 938 3197

7. Due to a lack of school library advisers in several districts, and in response to numerous requests from teachers for school library advice, the following EDULIS staff in Bellville may be contacted in the interim:

Rose Damon Acting Head: EDULIS
Eden & Central Karoo Education District
Metro East Education District		 tel. 021 957 9626
Theresa de Young Coordinator: School Library Services
Metro Central Education District
Metro South Education District		 tel. 021 957 9638

8. Schools with libraries are encouraged to join in with the local public library for a co-operative activity during Library Week.


SIGNED: M M HARKER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: EDUCATION PLANNING
DATE: 2014:02:25