Linden Library assistant Tebello Sengoara is helping redefine what a community library can be.

Known for her bright energy and digital savvy, Sengoara creates TikTok and Facebook videos and has even contributed to Wikimedia South Africa projects to highlight local libraries and public figures.

Read more: Linden Library assistant shares her love of books

Her journey began with a childhood filled with books. A treasured copy of When Hope Whispers, gifted by her mother with an encouraging message, would later circle back into her life when she worked with its author, Zoleka Mandela, through her nonprofit foundation. Mandela signed a copy – a full circle moment that would cement Sengoara’s passion for literacy.

At the library, she works mainly in the children’s section, where, in some instances, books are held upside-down by wide-eyed first-time readers, and whimsical conversations make every day unpredictable. “It’s colourful, playful, and imaginative,” she said. “Kids say the wildest things.”

She received an honorary mention at the 2025 Next Library Changemaker Awards for her innovative approach to modern libraries. She has always dreamt of ‘green shelves’ in the library – transforming the space into eco-friendly hubs with gardens, seed-sharing, and workshops.

Also read: Cyber classes for the elderly at Linden Library

Having once been unemployed herself, she views libraries as lifelines. Free Wi-Fi, job-hunting support, and the simple escape of reading make them vital community anchors. “Books give your mind something to hold onto when life feels unsteady.”

A self-described creative “shape-shifter,” Sengoara brings every skill — media, community care, storytelling into her work. As she puts it with a smile, “Life has many chapters, and libraries help us write them.”

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