The new state-of-the-art library in the Free State town Van Stadensrus is envisaged to advance community development, and create and develop a culture of reading amongst residents.
Mxolisi Dukwana, Free State premier, and Limakatso Mahasa, MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, officially opened the facility for use by the community on 13 July.
Named the Jan Lebese Public Library, it reportedly cost the department about R17 million to construct.
The library’s construction is part of government’s efforts to transform and upgrade public library services in disadvantaged communities, and provide access to information and resources; in addition to providing much-needed support to literacy and education-driven campaigns.
The facility fills a huge gap pertaining to the residents of this small town’s need for ease of access to continuously updated information.
While the previous library was a one-room structure, the recently completed construction saw this facility transformed into a fully-fledged centre of information excellence.
The library provides the community with the following:
- a section for children and adults borrowing or returning books;
- a dedicated reading area;
- a reference section with capacity for 12 people;
- an activity hall;
- a study area with capacity for 55 people;
- a computer room with a total of 23 computers, providing users free internet access; and
- e-mail and word processing facilities.
In addition to these enhancements and utilities, the library has a designated area catering for early childhood development (ECD), and has educational toys to support the ECD activities. These include entertainment and educational games such as chess, Scrabble, Monopoly and others to cater for the needs of both children and adults.
The facility has a book lending services with approximately 8 000 library materials.
