Residents of Sharpeville and surrounding areas will benefit from an online library pilot project unveiled by the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in Sharpeville yesterday.
According to the Department, the Mzansi Libraries Online pilot project, introduced as part of the Human rights month celebrations, is an initiative of the Global Libraries Programme of SA, funded by the National Libraries SA, the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The pilot, which was unveiled at the Nkalimeng Leutsoa public library, is a R32-million, two-year project providing free new technological training and resources such as desk top computers, printers/scanners, tablets and free WiFi to library visitors.
Koekie Mayer, director of library and archival services at the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, says the pilot is part of the Gauteng City Region's mission to restore and change the lives of its people.
"As Madiba said, Sharpeville is the nation's "cradle of human rights" and it was therefore important that its people are among the first to benefit from such programmes which are intended to contribute towards restoring people's dignity and providing them with the necessary skills development and access to information," says Mayer.
She explains the library services will provide communities, school pupils and students with free access to information, research and training linking them to other online library platforms throughout the world.
The project, introduced at Nkalimeng Leutsoa public library in Sharpeville, has already been implemented at two other libraries within Gauteng, the Suurman Library in Tshwane and Wedela Library in Merafong in the West Rand.
The department says Information Communication Technology equipment to the value of R470 000 has been installed at the libraries.
"The project aims to enhance and strengthen library services in Gauteng by developing public libraries that are spaces for learning, recreation, socialisation and social cohesion, thus impacting on socio-economic transformation, education and access to employment, "says Mayer.
She points out following the success of the pilot, the Global Libraries Programme has committed to rollout the project to 44 more libraries across the Gauteng City region over the next three years, with 14 more to be completed in the 2016/2017 financial year.
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