Tokai library staff walked through the Westlake community on Monday, promoting their services and theme of this year’s South African Library Week: “Libraries: Heart of the community”.
The walk started at the Commando Hall and the librarians were joined by Kirstenhof police, Ward 71 councillor Penny East, Westlake pre-schools, Westlake United Church Trust members, the Women of Westlake, Westlake Primary school pupils and staff, Sharing Our Ubuntu Legacy (SOUL), Westlake and Plumstead clinics and residents.
Senior librarian Natasha Marinus said ibraries were not just about books. “They’re also about building the community and offering services for little ones to adults.
“We help members with job seeking, writing their CVs, and workshops on various topics. We offer many programmes on issues including substance abuse, reading literacy, digital access and children’s holiday programmes.”
Tracy Stallard, of public-benefit organisation Soul, works with Tokai library on these programmes. She said the library also created a safe, comfortable space for children to do their homework.
Tokai library has story times, a yoga group and knitting, chess and book clubs. Its hall is a meeting place for organisations and is used for talks.
Library Week, which runs from Monday to Saturday March 19 to 24, also offers a week of amnesty when patrons can return overdue library material without getting fined.
For further details about To- kai library activities, call 021 710 1480.
