South African Library Week and Gates Foundation Global Libraries' project launch
The Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Joseph Phaahla will launch the South African Library Week (SALW) 2014 on 15 March 2014 in Cape Town with the theme Celebrating Libraries in 20 years of Democracy: Check in at your library! Dr Pallo Z Jordan will deliver the key note address. The SALW will be celebrated countrywide from 17 - 22 March 2014.
In 2014 South Africa celebrates 20 years of democracy and this theme serves as an opportunity to focus attention on:
- Celebrating the role of libraries in the 20 years of democracy in South Africa
- Highlighting how libraries are upholding the right to freedom of access to information, as enshrined in the Bill of Rights, a reality
- Enhancing nation building and community development by opening the doors of learning to all
- Showcasing libraries as desired spaces for connecting people to each other, learning resources, communities, government, the world and the environment amongst others.
The event will be as follows:
Date: 15 March 2014, launch, the celebration will start on 17 - 22 March 2014
Time: 09h00
Venue: National Library of South Africa, Cape Town campus
On 18 March 2014 the National Library of South Africa (NLSA) and the Department of Arts and Culture will launch the Gates Foundation Global Libraries' Project as part of celebrating the South African Library Week.
The NLSA has been awarded R32 Million Grant by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support a pilot project to strengthen selected Public Libraries in South Africa. This pilot project is a precursor to a national country grant. The main goal of the project is to strengthen and enhance current public library services.
The fund has been awarded in partnership with government to:
- Expand technology for information access in public libraries
- Introduce new library services for community development
- Re-skilled and up-skilling of staff in information technologies and leadership training
- Enhancing existing resources and creating new library spaces.
The project will enhance the already started work by the Department of Arts and Culture's Community Libraries Conditional Grant which provide Internet facilities in public libraries countrywide.
The event will be as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 18 March 2014
Time: 10h00
Venue: National Library of South Africa, Pretoria campus
It is against the above background that I wish to propose an interview or your attendance on 15 and 18 March 2014 for both South African Library Week and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Global Libraries' Project Launch.
For more information:
Muponisi Nkuna, Deputy Manager: Corporate and International Relations
Cell: 083 471 0061
Tel : 012 401 9711
Fax: 012 326 7642
E-mail: muponisi.nkuna@nlsa.ac.za
