Gallery
MOSSEL BAY NEWS - National Library Week takes place from 15 to 24 March.
In anticipation of this, Mossel Bay Advertiser visited two libraries in the Mossel Bay area.
See photo gallery here: National Libraries Week starts on 15 March
The Thusong Centre library in Adriaans Avenue, Asla Park, and Mossel Bay Library in Marsh Street were chosen.
Mossel Bay Library turned 60 years old last November. It is the oldest library in the Mossel Bay area.
The Thusong Centre library is special because it has a toy library. The toys are set out each day for the children.
The toy library also offers a much-needed service to Early Childhood Development Centres, offering them the option of utilising toys and equipment for a period up to three months.
The Thusong library plays a vital role in the community because each day different primary school children, who do not have adult supervision in the afternoon, go to the library after school.
It is a form of haven for these children, keeping them from wandering around on the streets.
Notable about the Thusong Centre library was the large number of people – adults and children – making use of the computers in the Information Communication Technology section of the library when the Advertiser visited.
There were groups of high school and primary school children sitting together at tables at the library.
Displays
Topical, relevant displays were up at the library. At Mossel Bay Library, the children’s
Linda Sparg There was a woman with her young granddaughter, taking out books, and a section especially, was brightly decorated with displays and extremely welcoming for the children. A mother and her one-year-old were making use of the Sensory Corner at the library.
Another mother was with her son, using the computers to research a project. There were also schoolgirls, absorbed in books, in the reading corner.
Variety
The libraries provide a wide variety of books and if there is not a particular book you need at the library, the librarians will try to source it from another library in the Mossel Bay area.
Besides these two libraries, there is a library in D’Almeida, Hartenbos, Great Brak and Brandwag.
Currently the ATKV Langsous Mossel Bay branch is encouraging reading among Grade 1s. Chairperson Claire du Plessis is meeting with parents of Grade 1s, giving them tips on helping their children to read.
Borrowing books from the local library and reading with your child is an inexpensive way to empower your child.
Lauren van Rooyen (5) with her grandmother Krista de Bruyn at the Mossel Bay Library. Photos: Linda Sparg
Mom, Sihle Smith, with her children Siso (1) and Tina (10) at the Mossel Bay Library.
Nomalanga Masina, Ronell Frans, Noluntu Mbandezi, Suoney Vergotine, Elisna Schoeman, Xoliswa Gxakaza and Godfrey Bobelo work at the Thusong Library.
BELOW: Charmell Grootboom and her son Dominic at the Mossel Bay Library. 
Miki Taele, who is writing a maths supplementary examination in June, with her tutor, Zanele Xasha, at the Thusong Library.
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