23 Sep 2015

Acting principal library officer in Letlhakane Ms Wazha Chilume has urged members of the public to use libraries to enhance their knowledge.

In an interview with BOPA, Ms Chilume pointed out that Letlhakane National Library Service (LNLS) has been operating within Letlhakane Senior Secondary School since 1985 and that only a few members of the public visit the facility

According to Ms Chilume, the library offers a wide range of books from business, agriculture, home economics, science, finance, leisure, arts, history, religion to culture.

She also pointed out that the Botswana College of Distance and Open Learning (BOCODOL) books, past examination papers and children activities such as chess, mmele, building blocks and story books are available at the library.

“I even urge people to visit the library to read books on health, good eating habits and ways of exercising, especially in this day and age in which the world is faced with incommunicable diseases such as cancer, diabetics and high blood pressure,” she said.

She said that the library is for everyone regardless of age, occupation or background.

She said that house wives can visit the library to pick up new recipes while farmers can come to the library to read about animal diseases and ways to increase their yield.

She added that others can read books on religion to enhance their spiritual knowledge.

Ms Chilume stated that they have a mobile library that they use to reach out to primary school students at their respective schools, and to villages such as Mopipi and Mokobaxane.

She said the library has not been able to reach Khwee village due to poor roads.

She pointed out that the facility has no internet connection. 

She stated that being located in the school vicinity has disadvantaged the library because the Sesigo project does not help libraries which operate in schools.

Due to lack of space and operating in a school, they cannot conduct outdoor activities.

Ms Chilume also complained about people do not return library books. “I therefore urge all the people who have borrowed library books to return them or pay for them.
Let us save the available books for the future generation,” she said.

She pointed out that the library receives about 2,799 visits per month while a total of 1,753 people, including students, borrow books per month. She said that it is a very small number compared to the total population of Letlhakane village. ENDS