Linden Library is an open book

As he considers himself to be reserved, senior librarian at Linden Library, Senzo Nkwanyana, thought working in a library would be the career best suited for his personality.

Originally from the small town of Dannhauser, KwaZulu-Natal, his first experience with a library was through his school, “We were privileged enough to have reading periods in the mornings at least twice a week where spent time reading books we had selected.” This appreciation for libraries led to him studying Library and Information Science at Durban University of Technology.

Growing up, Nkwanyana was interested in reading books but, like some, found he would start a book and not come around to its completion. This was the case until he found Lungisani Mavundla’s book, Unyaka Wesithembiso. “While listening to the radio one night I heard a review of this book. It was the way in which the author narrated it and similarities I found with its main character that really resonated with me,” he said.

The book followed the journey of the protagonist, who moved from rural KwaZulu-Natal to the big city for his tertiary education, leaving his beloved girlfriend behind. The book’s title, which translated means a year of promise, portrayed the efforts of a young man staying steadfast to his love no matter what that year brought.

What Nkwanyana loves most about libraries is the preservation of heritage, history and that it is a free access service. These traits, for him, best define a library. In the city, those with his title are only found in libraries that are very busy and in these libraries the number of services differs from others. His job sees him manage staff, ensure that services run accordingly and promotion of services.

He finds it a privilege to work in a library that caters to a community of readers. “People here read a lot and they keep me on my toes as they like to ask an assortment of questions about various authors and I’d need to know this,” said Nkwanyana.

In his opinion what makes the library even more unique is the group, Friends of Linden Library. This a group of locally based people who collect donated books and give them to the library. These books are then sorted by librarians according to what they can and cannot use. Books not selected are then sold at a book sale and the funds generated from this sale are used to buy more books for the library. This is a a relationship that he is grateful exists as it allows for current books to be bought, “Books are seasonal and libraries should make sure they have current books that are sought after by readers.”

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