10 March 2006
Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Z Pallo Jordan, will be launching South
Africa Library Week tomorrow at RJR Masiea Public Library, Phuthaditjhaba, in
the Free State. As mentioned in his cluster media briefing in February, the
government is committed to the transformation of the library sector and will be
investing significant sums of money in the process.
In 2006 the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) is undertaking the
developing of a funding model to ensure that the funds for community libraries
are properly utilised and that they are specifically targeted at the
transformation of the sector.
To achieve this objective, the DAC will be consulting broadly with, among
others: professional library community and their organisation Library and
Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) as well as securing the buy-in
of all spheres of government to this exercise. A library transformation charter
will be drafted in 2006. This process will be spearheaded by the National
Council for Library and Information Services (NCLIS) headed by Professor Seth
Manaka. This charter will need to be endorsed by provincial and local levels
before funds can be disbursed.
That the DAC can deliver and make a difference in deep rural areas is
evident by the fact that this event being held in Phuthaditjhaba; the launch
also marks the establishment of an Official Publications Depository (OPD, only
the second in the country in a deep rural area where the people are thirsting
for information.
Venue: RJR Masiea Public Library, Phuthadijhaba (Free State)
Time: 11am
Date: Saturday, 11 March 2005
RSVP: Not necessary
Kindly contact:
Premi Appalraju
Cell: 0823752939
Sandile Memela
Cell: 082 800 3750
Issued by: Ministry of Arts and Culture
10 March 2006
