Local librarian to represent SA at awards ceremony in Kenya
A librarian from KaMaqhekeza will be travelling to Kenya soon to represent South Africa's Mini-library for the Blind project, which was nominated for an award at the African Public Service Day celebrations.
KAMAQHEKEZA – Local librarian Bongane Sibambo will represent South Africa’s Mini-Library for the Blind project at the African Public Service Day’s (APSD) Continental Celebration in Nairobi, Kenya, next weekend.
The mini-library was nominated for an award at the celebrations, from June 21 to 23, which aim to recognise innovation and excellence in public service, motivate public servants and share best practices among countries in Africa.
The initiative was launched at KaMaqhekeza Public Library three years ago. A second one was opened at Mgobodzi’s Somuhle Community Library in November. Several other libraries in the province have also successfully implemented the project over the past few years.
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The mini-library has won a special ministerial award at the annual Centre for Public Service Innovation’s Public Sector Innovation Awards last year for their efforts to assist community members that are often overlooked.
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The aim of the project is to ensure that visually impaired and blind community members also have access to the library’s essential services. This is done through providing document readers, audio playback equipment, audio and braille books and accessible book-lending services to library members upon request.
This has changed the lives of many rural readers who never had access to books they can “read” and afforded librarians the opportunity to learn new skills relating to the new equipment and services.
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Local librarian, Bongane Sibambo was chosen as the country’s representative, as he is known as a champion for the service and was congratulated by the newly appointed MEC for culture, sport and recreation, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali during a visit to the KaMaqhekeza Library on Wednesday morning.
Sibambo told Corridor Gazette that he is very excited about the trip. He looks forward to learning about library initiatives across the continent and bringing the lessons home to teach to others.
During her visit, Ntshalintshali explained that KaMaqhekeza was chosen to represent the country because they are the best in terms of the practice. She urged Sibambo to proudly represent South Africa by doing what he does best and bringing the award home.
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She made a call to families with blind relatives to bring them to the library to gain more knowledge. “Everyone has a right to access to the library, information and a healthy environment. As a department we have seen that there is a need to expand the library, as the new initiative has caused more community members to flock here,” she stated.
