| 1. |
The month of October was declared International School Library Month (ISLM) by the International Association of School Librarianship. |
| 2. |
The theme for the month is "The School Library Rocks". |
| 3. |
Celebrating ISLM should be seen as recognition of the role and importance of libraries in lifelong learning, i.e. providing essential literacy and learning and teaching support material (LTSM) throughout the school system. |
| 4. |
International research has shown that learners achieve on a higher level and become more competent readers when they have access to a school library with a good resource collection, including books learners enjoy reading and strong information literacy programmes. |
| 5. |
In order to celebrate the importance of school libraries during ISLM, the Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) Education Library and Information Service (EDULIS), in partnership with Breadline Africa, will be hosting a "Bookface" competition where learners can win up to R30 000 worth of library material for their school library. |
| 6. |
Bookface involves strategically lining up your face or another body part alongside a book cover that features a matching body part so that there appears to be a melding of life and art. Learners can get someone to take a photo and enter it in the School Libraries Rock Bookface Competition. |
| 8. |
The WCED is encouraging those in charge of school libraries to choose a day in October 2015 that best suits their particular situation to celebrate school libraries. |
| 9. |
Schools are encouraged to send a full report (including pictures) on what they have done during ISLM to the following EDULIS and district officials for publication:
| Cheryl Joseph |
District Librarian
Metro East Education District |
tel. 021 957 9626 |
| 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 |
| Timothy Cloete |
School Library Adviser
Overberg Education District |
tel. 028 214 7387 |
| Jennifer Caroto |
School Library Adviser
Metro North Education District |
tel. 021 938 3197 |
| Carol van der Heever |
District Librarian
Metro South Education District |
tel. 021 370 2084 |
| Theresa de Young |
EDULIS, Bellville
Metro Central Education District
Eden & Central Karoo Education District |
tel. 021 957 9638 |
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SIGNED: M M HARKER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: EDUCATION PLANNING
DATE: 2015:09:23
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