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‘Books open doors’ KAYLYNNE BANTOM KAYLYNNE.BANTOM@MEDIA24.COM
“O
pen a book and you can be anything that you want to be.” So reads an abstract from a poem by American author Jane Baskwill. The poem was read by Grade 3 learner Owethu Dondolo at the official opening of a new library at Walmer Estate Primary School on Thursday 12 November. The poem was read to inspire learners and teachers at the school in the hope that the facility would encourage the culture of reading among learners. Work on the library began at the start of the year, with the charitable Otto Foundation converting a small, rarely used school hall into a state-of-the-art library. The foundation aims to help improve literacy levels and to inspire a love of reading among children. The R500 000 project also made provision for the hiring of a qualified librarian. The library is fitted with a projector, sound system and wipe-off whiteboard tables. For those who prefer laying down while reading, they can do so on the artificial grass mat and pillows provided. The neatly spaced shelves are packed with hundreds of books, novels, picture books, fiction and non-fiction reads mostly from local authors and publishers. A protea theme is accentuated throughout the library with colourful art pieces against the wall. Denize Kellerman, principal at the school, describes the library as a welcoming asset for learners. She says the school has been struggling for years with low systemic literacy results. “This is a dream come true for us and the foundation. We believe it will improve the literacy levels at the school and enhance what our teachers are trying so hard to achieve with the children in the classroom,” she says. According to Kellerman, teachers are now struggling to keep learners away from the library. “They want to be there all the time because it’s so beautiful and comfortable. It’s an inviting space so our learners actually want to be there and they are excited when it’s their library time,” she says. Nonikiwe Masholugu, literacy director at the foundation, says research shows that reading for enjoyment is more important for
Premier Alan Winde and school principal Denize Kellerman cut a ribbon to officially open Walmer Estate Primary School’s Protea Library. PHOTOS: KAYLYNNE BANTOM
children’s educational success than their family’s socio-economic status. She says it is for this reason that the foundation invests in school libraries and in programmes aimed at encouraging South African children to read. Masholugu says: “We’ve noticed that there is a link between kids performing well later on in life if they have been exposed to books from a young age.” She says they wanted to create a nice interactive space where kids can feel comfortable. “There are pillows, so they can lie down and read. We also have tables where kids can
write on the table and then wipe it off again. They love the fact that they can write on furniture, it’s very exciting for them,” she says. Premier Alan Winde, who attended the opening, says reading plays an important role in any person’s life. He says the Covid-19 pandemic impacted negatively on children. “I believe this library will make a massive difference for the learners here. The seeds that will grow here are the seeds that will be the leaders of tomorrow,” says Winde, promising to get officials from the provincial department of education’s safe schools programme to work with
the school to ensure its safety. Owethu describes library time as his favourite time of the day at school. “I like it because when it’s time to go to the library, they always give us something nice to do. I like the paintings on the wall,” says Owethu. Grade 4 learner Lithemba Magqaza says he likes reading fantasy books. “We never had a proper library. Now we get to read new books. I like to read because they teach me new words.” Magqaza believes books will help him achieve his dream of becoming an electrical engineer.