The Friends of Meadowridge Library, a volunteer group of library patrons and residents, is urging the public to make greater use of an “invaluable” institution.
The library ran out of two rooms in Meadowridge Shopping Centre when it opened in 1960 before moving to its current site in Howard Drive in 1970, according to Friends member Rhona Watson, but while it continues to serve the community, including Sweet Valley Primary and Bergvliet Primary and High schools, a lot has changed since those early days.
“People do everything online,” says Ms Watson. “A lot of the younger generation read for pleasure online with their Kindles, a lot of people study online. Even the children in school, they no longer come in to do their projects. They used to come in droves and take books out on their particular subject. Now they have that all available online.”
But despite these technological advances, Ms Watson believes libraries still hold a lot of value. “I think it plays a huge role. Happily, the little children, with their guardians, still use the library because there is nothing like a bonding experience sitting with your little one. And then for older people, it is a good social hub as well. It is not just books, but you can meet up and have book discussions and forums.”
The Friends group holds book sales to raise funds for the library and it also helps with covering books, admin tasks and maintaining the library’s garden.
The library offers access to computers, newspapers, magazines and other resources and it runs educational programmes and activities for children during the holidays. For more information on the library’s programmes, call Anne-Maree van Wyngaardt at 021 8141823.
It costs R20 a year to join the Friends of Meadowridge Library. Application forms are available at the library. Membership fees go towards new books, maintaining the garden and library activities. To find out more about the group, contact Rhona Watson at 0736242465.
