Outreach at the Department of Library Services and serving beyond our walls!

The management of the Department of Library Services (DLS) at the University of Pretoria (UP) established a new focus group for Community Outreach and Development with two drivers who function under the guidance of the director, Lindiwe Soyizwapi. 

Shipra Awasthi and Shiva Sukula discuss outreach programs in libraries in an article entitled “Outreach in library! Serving beyond the Walls”, published in 2019.  One of the models of outreach is through community outreach programs. Awasthi and Sukula explain that “[i]n this type, first the group of people is identified, their needs are identified and then a program is designed to help them by education, motivation, and creating awareness.  The feature of Community outreach programs is to meet the needs of the users of the particular community. The benefit of this program is to assist those who are deprived from society, underprivileged or are exploited in some or other way” (2019:183).

Against the background of Social Responsibility Month at UP, the Library was invited to participate in a creative way in the 21^st annual Feast of the Clowns, which was hosted by the Tshwane Leadership Foundation, with the overall theme: "Courage to be". It is a festival of celebration, arts, and justice, contributing to an overall vision of socially inclusive urban regeneration. Firstly, our contribution was to present a story-telling workshop on Tuesday, the 5^th of October from 9:00-12:00 at Thandanani Drop-In Centre in Mamelodi, Tshwane.

The interactive training workshop focused on how to read stories to, and with, children, preceded by a theoretical session with teachers, educators, and interested parties from the community.  For this story-telling workshop, our team members received formal training earlier this year from well-known storytelling guru Righardt le Roux. He is affiliated with Nal'ibali, which campaigns to promote a culture of reading in South Africa.

The following points were discussed on a primary school level during the training:

• the importance of reading;
• how reading stimulates and develops the mind of a child, comprehension and analytical abilities, fires up the imagination, stimulates memory, and assists with the recall of information;
• how to read aloud, together and alone;
• the role of games, songs, art, acting, and drama in storytelling;
• the importance or writing; and
• the scribing and doodling process.

Our participants received a brown bag lunch, stationery, and a copy of the course notes. Secondly, our team, mostly dressed as clowns, interacted with the children by blowing giant bubbles, inflating balloons, handing out sweets, and old fashion sherbet. When the fun activities ended, we divided the 86 children, who were super excited, into smaller groups and read some popular stories to them. Our activities were also “invaded” by a bunch of clowns, which contributed to a festive atmosphere.

Our second outreach event during the Feast of the Clowns week was at Inkululeko Community Centre on Monday, the 11^th of October, from 9:00-12:00.  During this outreach event, we engaged with 52 preschool children in a similar manner as before and ended our program, again, with the reading of stories. The children enjoyed the fun interaction; they could not get enough of chasing giant bubbles and the sound of small children’s voices was heard at quite a few decibels!

The team ended their participation on Saturday, the 16^th of October at the main festival and march of the clowns through the city. It was a peaceful and playful protest. There were stalls and exhibitions, activities for children and adults and a courage concert. During this event, we handed out some sweets, sherbet, blue pens, and some inspirational quotes branded with the Library logo.

The DLS contributed to this celebratory week by reaching out in an innovative way; taking our knowledge from beyond our walls to a larger community transformation process with healthy communities and spaces in mind.

Adrienne Warricker, our information specialist from the languages cluster, presented theoretical pointers on story-telling at Thandanani Drop-In Centre.

Chrissie Boeyens reading a story to the three-year-old group with assistance from Suzan Mamabolo.

Staff from the DLS in a festive mood on their way to Inkululeko Community Centre. From left to right are Viveka Pillai, Suzie Viljoen, Tebogo Sithole, Othilia Matjomane and Nolusindiso Skeyi.

Nolusindiso Skeyi reading to one of the groups at Inkululeko Community Centre.

Christine Nel (Driver) handing out sweets and blue pens at Burgerspark.

Mathuloe Moshidi sharing a light moment at Burgerspark with Kate from the Thandanani Drop-In Centre with our famous photo frame and the Library banner behind them.