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During South African Library Week, patrons will be able to return all overdue library items without getting a fine.

“Keeping an item that belongs to the library deprives others of accessing it. Should someone wish to extend the due date on a book or a movie, they can renew the item in person or by telephone. There are currently 96 000 library items that are overdue for more than two weeks while about 12 000 are overdue for two months,” City’s Mayco Member for Community Services and Health, Zahid Badroodien.

The City’s Library and Information Service (LIS) has opened the door for library patrons to return books during fine free week, no questions asked, to coincide with South African Library Week from 16 to 22 March 2020

“This is not sustainable and librarians have to go to great lengths to try and retrieve material. The patron is sent an SMS and after that, the librarian will call several times to try and get material back,” he added. “South African Library Week is also about celebrating and highlighting library services across the country and the City’s Library and Information Services will have four area-based integrated programmes, including libraries that will offer programmes for the week. These programmes will take place from the 16 to 20 March and patrons are encouraged to liaise with their local libraries for details.”

To read is to learn and thousands of patrons also read books to relax or to be informed. “Visiting your local library is for most of us a wonderful experience. A lot of learners want to go to their library to read and gain knowledge or accessing information for a school project.  By returning your library item whether it is a book, DVD or magazine, you ensure that other patrons will also have the opportunity to make use of the service,” Badroodien added.

The top 10 libraries with the most outstanding items are:

  1. Central Library
  2. Bellville Library
  3. Mobile Library
  4. Claremont Library
  5. Town Centre Library
  6. Weltevreden Library
  7. Rylands Library
  8. Somerset West Library
  9. Gugulethu Library
  10. Durbanville Library

The top ten overdue items at libraries across the City of Cape Town are:

  1. Jack and the Beanstalk
  2. Cinderella
  3. Mathematical literacy Grade 12
  4. Dog days
  5. Geography Grade 12
  6. Business studies Grade 12
  7. Life Sciences Grade 12
  8. Beauty and the beast
  9. Life Sciences Grade 11
  10. The Third Wheel

Previous Fine Free Weeks linked to major calendar events such as South African Library Week and National Book Week have proven to be effective in getting overdue library items back. A total of 32 224 items were returned last year.

Picture: Pixabay

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Lucinda is a hard news writer who occasionally dabbles in lifestyle writing, and recent journalism graduate. She is a proud intersectional feminist, and is passionate about actively creating a world which is free of discrimination and inequality.