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) 2015 will be celebrated from 14 to 21 March 2015 with the theme "Connect @ your library".

2. The theme resonates with the belief that libraries connect people to each other, to knowledge and information, to print and electronic resources, to technology and professional support.

3. The theme also encourages all to make the connection that libraries are desired one-stop, socially inclusive spaces for advancing literacy through the intellectual and aesthetic development of all ages.

4. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is encouraging teachers to make use of 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.

5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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

8. In response to requests from teachers for school library advice, the following EDULIS staff member in Bellville may be contacted:

Theresa de Young Co-ordinator: School Library Services tel. 021 957 9638

9. Please open the accompanying attachment for a range of suggestions as to how WCED schools could celebrate SALW 2015.


SIGNED: M M HARKER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: EDUCATION PLANNING
DATE: 2015:02:27

Suggested activities for South African library week  (size: 30 KB)