With the matric final exams just weeks away, City of Cape Town libraries are squaring up to support the Grade 12s in their final quest. Learners in lower grades needn’t fear; help is at hand for them too.
The City’s libraries take their titles as knowledge centres seriously, and most have well-established support programmes for matriculants in particular, but learners in general.
The most obvious offering is a quiet space where learners can do revision and prepare for exams. These spaces are open to scholars, but also those completing their studies at tertiary level.
And, while books are their core business, libraries also have study guides covering a host of subjects. These can be checked out for use at home.
Study guides are available for grades 8 to 12 for languages, Life Science, Business Studies and Mathematics, among others – availability depends on the library and the community needs for that particular facility.
Study guides can be transferred from one library to another, if there is a specific request.
Past examination papers too are available at some libraries, and should a specific document not be available, librarians can help learners download it via the SmartCape computers and print it for them, at the library’s standard printing rates.
“Study guides are issued for a shorter period due to the demand, especially during the examinations,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Patricia Van der Ross. “However, there is a bit of a trend of individuals hogging the material, which is not fair to others. So, I want to wish learners well for the exams and invite them to fully exploit what’s available; but I also want to caution them to be mindful of the needs of others. We are here to try and help as many young people and so let’s please play by the rules.”
A list of services and support at specific libraries is available here: https://bit.ly/4gvPQCU
“I want to applaud those libraries that are able to lend a hand to our young people at this very stressful time,” Van der Ross said. “I have no doubt that the quiet spaces and additional study resources will lighten the load. I also want to appeal to communities to help where they can. Something as simple as keeping the volume down in the home or the street can make a world of difference in the quality of studying learners are able to complete.”
