Only R887 per library for books

By Barry Vosloo, Ratepayers' Committee Member

On 26 May 2009 I responded as follows to an item in the 2010/11 draft budget:

“It is beyond belief that the 11 libraries in the Kouga region have been allocated the paltry amount of R9 752 (i.e. R887 per library) to purchase “books and publications”.

This almost certainly explains the poor state of books and the shortage of new publications in e.g. the Jeffreys Bay library – particularly the children’s section, which is the only source of reading pleasure for many (most?) of the children in town.

I find it downright offensive that, by comparison, councillors will eat and drink their way through R210 000 in the coming year! I trust that Council will ensure that the allocation for “books and publications” will be increased.”

The Chief Financial Officer responded by pointing out that it is the responsibility of the provincial government to provide funds for provincial libraries, not the municipality’s. To their credit, however, the municipality subsequently increased their contribution to R109 750.55. By the way, the provincial administration adds little value to local libraries.

It was a huge disappointment to be told recently that the municipality’s monetary allocation to local libraries was (a) reduced to somewhere between R80 000 and R90 000, and (b) that the money has not yet been spent.

Question: How on earth can children develop a reading culture without having access to sufficient books of good quality?