A Meaningful Book Donation Drive

The Library's Community Outreach and Engagement Focus Area in collaboration with the National Reading Coalition (NRC) is currently conducting a meaningful book donation drive. This initiative, which commenced on 10 March 2023, will continue until 29 November 2023. The NRC is instrumental in orchestrating various reading programs and uniting stakeholders across South Africa to share insights and effective teaching methods through its coordinating structure.

Established in response to South Africa's reading challenges, the National Reading Council (NRC) is a comprehensive initiative developed by the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and the Department of Basic Education (DBE). The NRC is actively implementing a comprehensive national strategy to enhance reading proficiency. Operating as an adaptable and self-sustaining network of reading programs, the NRC is fostering progress in this critical area.

The Department of Library Services (DLS) at the University of Pretoria plays a pivotal role in giving back to the community through the collection of textbooks and various reading materials such as children's books, leisure reads, anthologies and non-fiction books. This endeavour falls under the purview of the Focus Group for Community Outreach and Engagement.

Specially designed donation boxes have been strategically positioned across the Hatfield (main) campus, with our primary focus this year being Merensky 2 and the faculty libraries. Lungile Rathepe will be overseeing the distribution of these boxes to the faculty libraries in the upcoming weeks.

Working in agreement with faculty managers, dedicated community members within the faculty libraries will spearhead the initiative from their respective ends. Their strategies encompass sending campus-wide emails, initiating collection drives within the libraries and collaborating with student organizations to amplify the impact of the campaign.

For the convenience of donors, book donation boxes are conveniently placed in all branch libraries. Once these receptacles are filled, they are promptly collected by the NRC. Notably, the library has amassed an impressive total of 753 books between April and July 2023, with the Medical and Merensky libraries emerging as the leading contributors to this commendable effort.

National reading coalition team with Lungile and Timothy receiving a bakkie full of donated books collected by the library. 

Bongani Nkosi, one of the collections project contract workers, received books from Randolf Pretorius from the education library.

Lungile Rathepe received a book donation from an ex-UP BCOM student who saw the poster on Twitter.