To mark International Literacy Day (Thursday 8 September), Helderberg libraries will host an author’s fair from Monday 5 to Saturday 10 September.
The day coincides with the City’s Fine Free Week, which is an amnesty period aimed at encouraging patrons to return overdue books and other items without paying any fine. The initiative comes after the City incurred a near R3 million expense due a loss of more than 22 000 library items, comprising mainly of books, but also study guides and DVDs.
“During this week we want to encourage our patrons to view reading as a fun activity and to encourage them to incorporate reading into their daily lives. It is a pleasure being denied to many when items are not being returned.”
The fair will include book launches and visits by authors and publishers to the Gordon’s Bay, Lwandle, Macassar, Strand and Somerset West libraries.
- Macassar Library in Bind Avenue hosts journalist Julian Jansen, author of The De Zalze Murders and Seuns Sonder Pa’s, at 13:00 on Monday 5 September, and Sirene Paulse, a local career woman who shares her life threatening journey following a paraplegic diagnosis as a result of a rare autoimmune disease in her book, 72 Hours Changed My Entire Life (“Book tells tale of instant life change,” DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, Wednesday 8 June), at 12:00 on Thursday 8 September. RSVP to Glen Etson on 021 444 0980 or at glen.etson@capetown.gov.za. For more information, contact the library on 021 444 6787.
- Strand Library in Piet Retief Street hosts romance novelist Elsa Wickler at 10:00 on Wednesday 7 September and Dr Marita van Zyl Burger at 10:00 on Friday 9 September. RSVP to Erika van Staden on 021 400 3108 or at frederika.vanstaden@capetown.gov.za.
- Lwandle Library in Vulindlela Road welcomes Nkuthalo Publishers and Authors at 12:00 on Thursday 8 September. RSVP to Mzu Njambatwa on 021 4007017 or at mzukisi.njambatwa@capetown.gov.za.
- Gordon’s Bay Library in Watt Street on Friday 9 September presents storytime with writers of children’s books, Troula Goosen and Marjorie van Heerden, at 11:00 and 11:45, the second time alongside Wendy Martins. Invitation only
- Somerset West Library in Victoria Street presents activist storytellers Kelly-Eve Koopman and Sarah Summers at 12:00 on Monday 5 September, Councillor Norman McFarlane, author of Across the Border, at 10:00 on Tuesday 6 September, content editor and columnist Erla-Mari Diedericks in conversation with Madri Victor from LAPA Publishers at 14:00 on Friday 9 September, and writer Hans Pienaar in conversation with Shané Kleyn from Protea House Publishers at 10:00 on Saturday 10 September, followed by co-authors of the book, Luna and the Astronaut of the Mind, Garth Newman and Yumna Sadan at 12:00. RSVP to Nizam Bray on 021 400 4820 or at nizam.bray@capetown.gov.za.
