Volunteers cover books for 67 minutes

Cape Town - 140726 - Various people volunteered some of their time at the Bookery on Saturday to participate in the monthly coverathon for the new library at Heatherdale Primary in Athlone.Volunteer, Fiona Walther, looks on. REPORTER: Lesley Byram. PICTURE: jason boud

Cape Town - 140726 - Various people volunteered some of their time at the Bookery on Saturday to participate in the monthly coverathon for the new library at Heatherdale Primary in Athlone.Volunteer, Fiona Walther, looks on. REPORTER: Lesley Byram. PICTURE: jason boud

Published Jul 28, 2014

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Lesley Byram

THE goodwill of Mandela Day on July 18 continued at the Cape Times’s Library in Every School coverathon at The Bookery on Saturday, when 20 volunteers helped to cover books for the new library at Heatherdale Primary School in Athlone.

The library is due to be opened in September.

The coverathon, which takes place on the last Saturday of every month, aims to raise awareness of the project, which was started five years ago in support of Equal Education’s One School, One Library, One Librarian Campaign.

Equal Education then opened The Bookery in Roeland Street, where people were encouraged to donate books and where volunteers sorted, covered and catalogued them before they were donated to a school.

The Bookery became an independent NPO last year and now, in addition to identifying schools with sufficient infrastructure to support a library, also trains librarians for positions at these libraries. To date, 33 libraries have been opened.

An average of three books per pupil is given to each library, which normally means between 3 000 and 4 000 books need to be covered for each school.

“The Bookery has had the privilege of the support of the Cape Times from the start of the project,” said Cosmas Mabeya, executive project manager of The Bookery. “The monthly coverathon is becoming a popular event and we thank Capetonians for coming to help us prepare books.”

Following an invitation to Cape Times readers who had not managed to complete their 67 minutes of community service, several attended the coverathon for the first time.

“I saw the notice in the newspaper and decided to come along, help out and meet new, like-minded people making a difference to encourage reading,” said Anne Postema.

“Initiatives such as this make me proud to be South African,” said Martine Kawalsky.

“The Bookery is a phenomenal organisation that does vital work for literacy in South Africa,” said Julia Chaskalson. “I’m happy to be involved in improving libraries and education.”

Debra West, who volunteers every month, said: “Summer and winter, there is warmth and jollity at The Bookery. I enjoy meeting new people and chatting with other regulars who want to help promote reading and education.

“It’s a fabulous project and I love coming here.”

Julie Suberg is another regular. “The company is amusing and I love books. There are so many experiences I’d never have had if books hadn’t pointed the way so I hope to pass it on as well,” she said.

For more information on the project email [email protected] or visit www.thebookery.org.za

l Byram is co-ordinator of the Cape Times’s Library in Every School project and a trustee of The Bookery.

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