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The week of 22 to 27 March 2010 marks the celebration of the annual South African Library Week (SALW2010) in association with the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA). And this year’s celebrations will focus on the theme Reading changes lives.
Library Week 2010 will be launched on Saturday 20 March at the National Library of South Africa to coincide with the date of the promulgation of the first public library in South Africa in 1818.
Library Week 2010 will see many exciting activities, including a Walk for School Libraries Campaign whereby LIASA and its partners will aim to raise the quality of education above that of the past fifteen years. The Library and Information Services (LIS) Transformation Charter has shown that libraries are essential for the delivery of quality education and therefore the campaign continues and aims to ensure that all schools in South Africa have a functioning school library.
As part of the campaign, learners, parents, teachers and community members will participate in a peaceful walk in Pretoria during Library Week 2010. Gathering on Friday, 26 March 2010 at 12:00 at Church Square, the procession will continue to the Union Buildings where a Memorandum will be handed over, calling for a National Policy on School Libraries.
Library Week 2010 also forms the precursor to a month-long promotion of libraries, books and reading, which will culminate on Friday, 23 April 2010 – World Book Day. During this month LIASA and the Department of Arts and Culture will launch and actively promote the idea of Every Child a Book. This campaign is to ensure that every child in South Africa is given a book to commence their journey towards a lifetime of reading. This may be in the form of an individual gift, presentations to schools, book collections for children's homes, etc.
For more information about Library Week 2010, contact Francien Maritz on tel: +27123234912 or email: salw@liasa.org.za. Or visit LIASA’s website at: www.liasa.org.za
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