Under development and poverty in Alexandra are challenges which the residents can partially resolve by improving their literacy levels from an early age.
With its huge population, Alexandra has only four but well-equipped libraries for all age groups. They are stocked with picture books for beginner readers and children, set books, reference books, encyclopaedias, all-subject books for school children and university students, fiction and non-fiction books and newspapers and magazines for adults’ relaxation reading.
One of them, Riverpark library has 23 000 books, but is not used fully by the residents. Senior librarian Melanie Burgin said 30 percent usage was by primary students and 30 percent by university students, with a very small number of mainly older adults turning up occasionally. She said the facility was for the community to exploit for their own personal and community development purposes as they can research and find solutions for plans to their social and economic challenges. “Also, reading will develop their interest in children’s development and in supervising their school work. This will improve their school performances and assist teachers struggling with large numbers of children.” she said.
Burgin added that the library’s other tools include visits to creches to stimulate reading through story and picture books, “Unfortunately only eight of the many registered and unregistered creches benefit from this service.” She said they relied on social workers who were struggling to ensure most creches participate.
Other options for schools, for now not fully utilised, are the science scuffle which provides children reference skills to help them access books for use in finding answers to questions. Only 14 schools from many in Alexandra, Marlboro, Bramley and Rembrant Park were using this facility.
Other opportunities were the Story Skirmish and Battle of the Books for grades four to fives and six to seven respectively. These lent set books for a quiz culminating in regional competitions. She said MC Weiler, Carter and Iphuteng primary schools did well in these competitions in the past. In reference to children loitering on the street after school and on weekends, Burgin urged parents to utilise the services of the libraries as facilities to disseminate knowledge essential for their children’s personal and community development and for problems solving through research.
The library’s other services include a computer school. Plans are in the pipeline for internet access.and they provide an adult basic education programme with the University of South Africa.
Details: Riverpark Library; 010 237 1057.
