The small town of Kareedouw in the Koukamma Municipality, in the Eastern Cape, now boasts a state-of-the-art library having the latest technology.
This achievement comes amid a wave of library infrastructure collapses around the country.
The Eastern Cape saw 15 libraries shut down in 2019. The Mcebisi Michael Msizi Public Library opened its doors to the public and it’s hoped it will empower the community it serves.
Libraries offer far more than just the physical structures and books lining shelves.
It’s an educational haven and a sanctuary for children and adults alike.
In Kareedouw, the library offers opportunities for lifelong learning for people from all walks of life. For those still in school, the new library is a lifeline.
The municipality says the new library will expose community members to great opportunities.
The library was built to accommodate and incorporate visual, audible and online information. For one learner, Ocean Qwazi, the technology is an eye-opener, having first touched a computer two years ago.
“It is the first time I touched a computer and it changed my life.”
For other learners, the library computers are the only means of connecting with the rest of the world.
The library boasts two study rooms, children’s reading areas, breakaway rooms, and reading spaces in an open-air courtyard.
It also has a dedicated area for online research, iPads, computers, as well as a conference room.
