LIBRARY WEEK: AN ENVIRONMENT INFLUENCES THE UPBRINGING OF PEOPLE

Noor’s English Academy Principal, Noor Janekie Khalo says Library Week simply means going back to the basics…upholding, appreciating and sticking to the olden ways of studying that has proven to be effective and efficient. 

SA Library Week was initiated in 2001 by Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) to be a commemorative period recognized by government when all types of libraries across the country use it as an opportunity to market their services in an effort to contribute to the understanding of the important role that libraries play in a democratic society, advancing literacy, making the basic human right of freedom of access to information a reality, and to promote tolerance and respect among all South Africans.

Noor’s English Academy Principal, Noor Janekie Khalo says Library Week simply means going back to the basics…upholding, appreciating and sticking to the olden ways of studying that has proven to be effective and efficient. 

A study done on the 26th April 2019 by The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), an international comparative reading assessment shows that: 78% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa cannot read for meaning, and this is significantly worse for children tested in African languages – 93% of Grade 4 students tested in Sepedi could not read for meaning with similarly large percentages among Setswana (90%), Tshivenda (98%), isiXhosa (88%), Xitsonga (88%), isiZulu (87%) and isiNdebele (87%). 

  

“I don’t remember back in the days people saying that learners cannot read or understand English or whatever it is but today because we have neglected the olden ways of going to the libraries, we find out that our kids cannot read,” Khalo commented.

According to Stellenbosch University economist Nic Spaul, there are three explanations: Foundation Phase teachers (grade 1-3) do not know how to systematically teach reading; the poorest schools in the country are extremely text-poor and there is wasted learning time during the school day. 

Neuroscience research reveals that early childhood is the ideal time to develop the basic skills for reading fluency, and the degree to which children aquire language skills and become motivated, habitual readers, is a strong predictor of future academic success, educational attainment, employment and income. 

"I believe that the library I plan to open will motivate the kids to get serious with their studies and change their background. And hopefully we will have a generation that is knowledgeable and break the status quo" 

Khalo thinks that kids can speak fluently because they are always on their phones but it’s a ‘shock’ when coming to reading or writing especially in English. He says the contributing factor is that they do not visit the library as often as they should. “The minute they can decide to visit the library I believe that they will be able to write and speak better.”

When asked if libraries were important, Khalo said, “I believe that we truly need the libraries. I am in the process of opening a small library at Polar Park in Mokopane because I believe that libraries equip people.” 

The Academy Principal added that an environment plays a huge role in the upbringing of people.   He used Polar Park as an exemplary saying there are many taverns and pubs that kids grow up being exposed to and initially end up being influenced to follow suit. “I believe that the library I plan to open will motivate the kids to get serious with their studies and change their background. And hopefully we will have a generation that is knowledgeable and break the status quo.” 

Moreover Khalo emphasized that libraries should bring back the excitement in its buildings by hosting events such as reading competition, debates, book networking etc. “Young people love excitement and another way to persuade them, is by bringing that excitement back which I feel is missing in our libraries at the moment,” he ended. 

BACKGROUND

After extensive consultation with the membership the following proposal was accepted:

“That the week within which 20 March falls should be national Library Week.  In the event of this day failing within a weekend, then the week preceding it would be celebrated as national Library Week.”

The choice of the date was based on research into the history of libraries in South Africa:

The South African Public Library, now known as the National Library of South Africa (Cape Town Campus) was the first library to be established in South Africa.  This was done by a government proclamation on 20 March 1818.  The South African Library in fact started off as a true public library and has established itself as a pioneering institution in South African library history.

Furthermore, Human Rights Day through the Bill of Rights recognizes the freedom of access to information as a basic human right.   We are therefore able to link an important historical event with a crucial date in our new democracy.

This proposal was strongly supported by the then Department of Arts, Culture Science and Technology, which further proposed that the Week be renamed South African Library Week.  SA Library Week was officially celebrated for the first time in 2002 and has become a very important date on the national LIASA calendar.  Since then SALW was driven by LIASA and celebrated nationally every year.   LIASA confirms the dates and theme every year.

South Africa celebrated Library Week under the theme: 'Libraries Matter!' between the 15-21 March 2021.