Durban - School libraries around the country are not properly resourced, leaving learners battling to do research for their school work in their respective subjects.
During a conference organised by the Library Information Association of South Africa (Liasa) at the ICC on Wednesday, it was revealed that school libraries were in crisis.
Included among the challenges they faced were lack of sufficient resources, inadequate number of qualified staff members to manage the facilities, and lack of funds to buy textbooks.
Liasa, a non-profit organisation, advocates unity by South African basic education schools in all nine provinces to look into the issues and possible solutions.
Theresa De Young, Liasa’s treasurer, said the resolutions of the five-day conference - which started on Monday - would be relayed to the education department for discussion and possible solutions.
“Though these issues have been experienced over a long period now, we want a way forward to resolve the crisis in schools. We hope that meeting with the department will provide solutions,” said De Young.
During the discussion session, various speakers from different schools pointed a finger at the department for its failure to provide support for the installation and/or maintenance of school libraries.
Panellists suggested mobile libraries as a short-term solution for those schools without the facilities.
They also suggested a correct mindset for people surrounding the libraries, and also employment of professional and qualified staff.
Tholakele Msimangu, an educator and librarian at Sewula Primary School in eManzimtoti, presented issues she faced before they had a library.
She said the school used corner libraries, which were built with bricks and planks in the classroom corners.
“We faced difficulties because we had to build and remove the bricks and planks every day. This was a costly exercise, because many books got lost or returned torn by learners,” said Msimangu.
They finally got a proper library in 2010, when the school was renovated.
This, she said, improved learner reading and this was assisted by having learners compete against one another during the Arbor Day celebration.
Daily News