The Limpopo Provincial Library and Information Services (LIS), which has numerous underprivileged community libraries under its wing, has been faced with the challenge of keeping its public and community libraries functional due to lack of financial and logistical assistance from both the public and private sectors.
The Limpopo LIS has over the years strived to proactively source as much assistance as possible from interested parties for its many libraries. Its perseverance saw it partnering with leading online information service company, Sabinet Online.
Sabinet Online has a project called Adopt a Library which was established a few years ago to assist committed underprivileged community and public libraries which are passionate about the development and sustainability of their communities. This project is aimed at enabling libraries to make a positive contribution to the communities they serve.
The Limpopo LIS and Sabinet worked together to identify, Soetfontein Community Library and Ga-Phaahla Public Library, as the two community libraries which were the most deserving of assistance for their community projects.
Sabinet sponsored the two libraries with equipment including computers and printers for the educational needs of their communities. The equipment was handed over on 18 August 2006 to the community at the Soetfontein Community Library, which is situated in the Greater Letaba Municipality, on 18 August 2006 in the presence of Honourable Motlou, Mayor of the Greater Letaba Municipality and the Soetfontein Rural Development Organisation.
"We are grateful to Sabinet for this sponsorship and the faith they have shown in what we would like to achieve for our communities. However, the struggle for us is far from over as there are still not enough financial resources to allow us to purchase equipment to connect the computers to the Internet. The computers which Sabinet sponsored are currently only utilised for typing and not for sourcing information or research," said Ansie Mahlake, Senior Manager, Library and Archive Services.
The Limpopo LIS is continuously seeking partners who will supply network infrastructure for its libraries.
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