06 May 2018

Residents of Letlhakeng, especially the youth, have welcomed developments at the village’s public library.

They said the library provided them with valuable services such as computer literacy lessons as well as helping to improve their reading and vocabulary skills.

One of the regulars, Mr Lone Karume said he started using the library in 2012 while he was still a student, but that  it did not have Internet services.

“I am happy at the new developments in the library as I can now access the Internet, which allows me to check and send e-mails and access social media,” he said, adding that the library also helped him and his peers to access newspapers which they have no money to buy.

Senior library officer, Ms Lesego Philip said the library has been operational for a long time, revealing that in 2012 it received funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to buy computers and install Internet.

Ms Philip said it helped to bridge the gap between rural and urban dwellers in terms of computer literacy and Internet access.

She said apart from the normal services, the library also collaborated with primary schools in the village to assist pupils with their school work and offer them recreational activities like chess and monopoly.

“We want to play a part in achieving positive results in the Primary School Leaving Examinations results for both schools,” she added.

Ms Phillip expressed gratitude to ICT graduates for spreading the message to other villagers resulting in the ICT lessons having full enrollment.

She said the six-week course helped individuals, government and private sector employees gain basic ICT knowledge.Ends