A NEW library is a big deal at Glenvista Primary School and Sheldon Spear, the founder of Need2Read, identified the school’s needs. With assistance from the local Ward 23 councillor, Sarah Wissler, he made the school’s dream come true on May 30.
Sheldon (13), a learner at Curro Waterstone College, began Need2Read in 2014 after he decided he had lots of books he’d outgrown, and with the help from his mom, Adele, family and friends, he began delivering books to needy schools in Alberton and the South of Johannesburg. Soon he was getting requests for books from other areas too.
In April 2015 he was awarded the LeadSA Youth Hero Award and was interviewed on Talk radio 702. While he was on the radio, Benjamin Trisk, the CEO of Exclusive Books called in and offered to donate enough books to help him reach his target of 2 500 books.
“He donated 1 500 brand new books, making it 5 000 collected in that year alone,” said Sheldon.
In 2016 his dream of opening a library came true when a container was donated to him and was refurbished with donated shelves. Since then Sheldon has opened another two libraries. This one at Glenvista Primary is his fourth.
“Sarah, a friend, spoke to Mr Oliphant and he said he had a spare classroom which could be used for a library but it would need shelves. I saw an advert for Shelf Space on Facebook and called them and met Karl van Staden who was eager to help and offered to donate shelving,” he added.
At the opening of the library at Glenvista Primary, Sheldon said, “Each library is special in its own way as I learn so much throughout the experience. I get such a thrill out of sharing my love of reading with other learners. My favourite author is J K Rowling and two of her famous quotes explain how I feel about building libraries. The quotes are: ‘I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book’ and ‘If you don’t like reading you haven’t found the right book.’”
To the learners, he said: “Please enjoy your library; find the right book for yourself and I hope you all find something magical in this library.”
Mr Arnold Oliphant, the principal of the school, gave his thanks to Sheldon and added, “Thank you, Sheldon and your mom Adele and grandmother, family and friends and Clr Wissler, who have made this possible. I am absolutely certain this library will bring a lot of joy to a lot of our learners. Thank you also to all our invited guests, including Mr Graham King, who is Glenanda Primary School’s principal and who was caretaker of our school in the beginning and to Nolene Ralph, a local resident who had faith in this school before it was even built.”
Uthamdolwethu Moyo, a learner at the school, recited a poem and Lihle Mazibuko told a story to the learners.
Invited guests were Khume Ramulifho, the DA Shadow MEC for Education, Clr Sarah Wissler, Adele Spear, Karl van Staden, Graham King (principal of Glenanda Primary School), Paulos Chabalala (chairman of the governing body of Glenvista Primary) and Nolene Ralph (friend of the school).
After the speeches, guests and some of the learners visited the new library and later enjoyed refreshments in the school staffroom.
Read:
Glenvista Primary School due to open soon
Glenvista Primary School gets water
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Add us on WhatsApp today! Comaro Chronicle: 079 427 8074 and Southern Courier: 079 404 5789.
