Northern suburbs libraries sign up hundreds of new members

Almost 600 people have signed up as new members of Brackenfell, Eikendal, Kraaifontein and Scottsdene libraries from July to September, according to a report tabled at Sub-council 2 meeting.

The quarterly report presented by Linda Ntaka, from the City’s library services, on Wednesday November 16, said more than 4300 people - almost 60% of them over the age of 26 - used the SmartCape internet services at the libraries.

During this quarter, the libraries’ staff had made deliberate efforts to register babies and toddlers as part of the 1000 Stories Before School drive.

Brackenfell library ran book club sessions for teenagers and during Women’s Month author IIse Verster spoke to more than 50 people at the library about her debut book, So Lyk ’n Vrou.

“The library did several in-house displays during this quarter to highlight special days and events and made use of Facebook to market the library and its services,” said Ms Ntaka.

She said Scottsdene library held a digital literacy workshop for youth during August and 154 Grade 6 pupils from Enkululekweni Primary School in Wallacedene took part in a workshop where they learnt how to use library resources to do research for school projects.

The library also held reading programme for primary school children and did storytelling sessions at preschools in Wallacedene.

Eikendal library had 15 storytelling sessions that were attended by children from the neighbouring areas discussing books. Alicia English discussed her book, I Miss Daddy, and another author, Kyle Jantjies, encouraged children to write poems and stories.

This library held a holiday programme attended by 112 children.

Kraaifontein library presented an information literacy session at Bloekombos Primary School, which was attended by 163 children, and Grade 2 and Grade 3 Aristea Primary School pupils took part in a library orientation.