By TDN
Maquassie Hills-Communities in and around Maquassie Hills in Kenneth Kaunda District, young and old gathered in the new library complex at Lebaleng Township to celebrate the opening of their own long awaited community library handed over by MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Mme Tebogo Modise.
The library’s modern high-tech facility is part of the Province’s drive to deliver quality Libraries to local communities around the Province. It features free Public Internet Access (PIA) for local to surf for research and other educational purposes.
Another key feature is the brail facility for reaching the blind.
The opening of Lebaleng Community Library signified yet another milestone brought about by the partnership as well as integrated service delivery between Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and Maquassie Hills Local Municipality.
“There will be story telling hours, educational toys to play with and reading, research programmes for local crèches and schools. The youth will benefit from developmental programmes such as debates, youth talk – shows and seminars targeting the needs of the youth in general. Furthermore the libraries will provide and ensure that every citizen’s access to information, said MEC Tebogo Modise.
MEC Modise further urged the community to love, protect and promote their library so that it serves a purpose intended for, that is to improve culture of learning and reading amongst the various spheres of communities as well as aiding Adults community, as the library will offer Adult based education to eradicate illiteracy and prepare the community for better future of informed society.
Applauding the partnership of Sport, Arts and Culture and Local Municipality of Maquassie Hills for delivering the state of art library to the community of Lebaleng, Ms Aletta Emke of National Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) said the community should count themselves most fortunate to have a well-equipped library in their doorstep, something that a township would ever dream of in not so much past history of this country.
Emke further pleaded with the community to cherish the ideals of government to bring services to them, to improve their sense of pride and ownership of such magnificent infrastructure intended to shape the inner most development of a person.
“I pray that the establishment of this library shall rekindle the spirit of reading and learning amongst the young and old for the better future full of a changed community.” Mme Emke urges.
“ It is so good today that we witness the opening of this long awaited house, we kept asking what would be the end product of this building in our community, but today we see a library – at least there is something for our children. We are thankful as a community. We hope that this infrastructure will change how our children see things and make them better future leaders” said Jacob Skommer (78) a community member.
Motlalepule Selekiso (14) a student at Seepapito secondary school in the township was quick to say that the opening of the library in their long forgotten area came as a surprise to most of the youth in their “Kassie” and will never be the same again.
“We shall be mentioned as one of the progressive Kassies and thanks to the department. We have something to pride ourselves with” said Motlalepule as she was pushing herself to view what was inside the state of Art.
“Days of risking our lives by walking to Maquassie town for lending books are over, we have a library in our area now we can even just walk in and take books and get home quick before anybody could notice, thanks to the department and our municipality for such a generous gesture.” said Molebogeng Tomole (16) from Rutanang School.
The Member of Provincial Executive Council, responsible for Sport, Arts and Culture, Mme Tebogo Modise, also said her Department`s first consideration was to ensure that each municipality within each district receive its local library, and further feel that libraries in schools are rather small for the full development of children.
“We are here at Lebaleng today to come and usher mechanisms aimed at rectifying the imbalances of colonialism and apartheid” said Mme Modise.
Mme Modise further applauded the youth for their spirit of working together with government during the difficult times of the construction phases and for coming in such great droves to witness the opening of the library.
The MEC also encouraged youth to participate in sport, arts and culture activities for a better life and sustainable healthy living.-TDN
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