How a community library is changing lives in Kuils River

In a small corner of Sunbird Park in Kuils River, a simple act of placing books on a kitchen table gave rise to a community library that would grow into a hub of literacy for the community. 

In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Latifah Jacobs established Aurorah Kuils River Community Action Network (CAN), a volunteer group that initiated a soup kitchen in response to the pandemic to serve vulnerable community members.

At the back of Ms Jacobs' kitchen stood two metal tables, which served as the earliest “library shelves.” A few well-worn books stood there, free for anyone to take home. 

“We started with feeding people,” said Ms Jacobs. “I have always loved reading and had a book collection. But while seniors came to fetch food, they began asking, "Can we borrow a book?”

It was after she received a donation of three shipping containers in 2021 that the idea of a library was slowly coming to life. She kept one container with her in Kuils River; others were gifted to the community organisations in Delft and Masiphumelele. 

One of her memories is of a conversation with a young man. “He was 21 years old and he told me he had never been inside a library before.”

Ms Jacobs soon realised that the Kuils River Public Library was a few kilometers away from their community. It was neither safe for children to walk all the way, nor sustainable for them to take public transport, she said.

She chose to launch the library on July 18, 2022, as part of her 67 minutes of giving back to the community on Mandela Day. 

“What better way to celebrate Mandela Day than by encouraging the one thing that is a key part of changing the narrative, creating a positive change through reading and creating a safe space to learn,” Ms Jacobs said at the time. 

The container, initially used for storage, was transformed into a makeshift library to be a hub of literacy where young and old pupils come to study, the elderly borrow books, and both private and volunteer tutors assist pupils.

Community members rallied with donations of books. Shelving was sourced from the Kuils River Public Library to give the space a professional feel. 

Ms Jacobs said her vision for Aurorah Hotspot Library, as it is known now, faced a setback when she was scammed while installing the interior of the container turned library.  

The roof leaks when it rains, and has also damaged some of the lights, she said.

From the start, the goal was not only to provide books but to build a love for reading and comprehension, said Ms Jacobs. “I picked up something during my first year at UWC - many of the children read, but they read without understanding.”

She said one of the many reasons for opening the space was to motivate children to read to understand for their own learning benefit. 

Volunteers offer tutor services for younger children in the library, while other tutors use the space for paid sessions. The library also hosts movie nights and holiday programmes.

Ms Jacobs said only three books had gone missing since the opening of the library.

“Latifah opened the library space for me to use at any time. Our kids are not used to a library because we don't have one close to us. My students are free when they get there. Ms Jacobs also blessed me with some exercise books that I can use,” said Theoline Masamba, a private tutor from the neighbouring Silversands. 

Radia Muller from Sunbird Park said her two sons love reading and listening to stories, but the hurdle used to be the need to travel to the public library in the Kuils River CBD.  

“We used to travel every two weeks to get books from the Kuils River library, which was difficult as there was not always money for Uber or a taxi. Many times we missed our due dates and then had to pay a penalty, but ever since our library opened here in the area, we can go to get new books whenever we want,” she said. 

Ms Jacobs said the library has 152 registered members, but the number is even higher when including community members who use it for research or volunteer services. 

The library’s collection grew to include school textbooks, comics for reluctant readers, and academic works for university students. Seniors, too, began borrowing books for weekend reading. 

Washiela Matthews, 60, from Sunbird Park, said she is looking after four grandchildren, and the library helps to boost her cooking skills.

“In my busy schedule with grandchildren, I can easily access some recipe books if I want to try something different,” she said.

While Ms Jacobs waits for summer to repair the leaks, the Aurorah Hotspot Library stands as a beacon of hope for the Kuils River community, and the donation of books of any type remains open to all.