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S A Library Week 2005 | Launch | Celebrations | Poem
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LIASA has declared 14 to 18 March 2005, South African Library Week. During this week stakeholders will celebrate and promote library and information services throughout South Africa with the theme: "Libraries: opening the doors of learning and culture to all".
The theme is derived from President Thabo Mbeki's inaugural speech earlier this year when he called for learning and culture to be made available to all South Africans. In addition, 2005 marks the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, a milestone in South Africa's struggle for liberation and the basis on which the new South Africa is founded. Libraries around the country will be able to demonstrate their contribution to learning and culture through focusing on this theme.
South African Library Week 2005 will celebrate the founding principles of libraries, that they be the repositories of knowledge for future generations while at the same time making that knowledge accessible to all who need it. Libraries are truly the "doors to learning and culture" in that they make available all the knowledge of humankind throughout the history of the world to anyone who seeks it. The programmes will be supported by a range of sponsored posters and promotional materials, highlighting reading, information and libraries. These will be distributed to libraries and information services throughout the country to raise awareness and encourage all communities to participate in this important week.
The Freedom Charter was signed in Kliptown, Soweto, and therefore the LIASA Executive Committee secured the Kliptown Visitors Centre as venue for the launch of Library Week on 12 March 2005. LIASA will organise the launch in close cooperation with the City of Johannesburg and the Gauteng Provincial Library Services.
LIASA has invited Minister ZP Jordan, Minister of Arts and Culture, to deliver the key note address, as well as MEC B Creecy, MEC for the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Gauteng Province. LIASA also requested Councillor Amos Masondo, Executive Mayor of Johannesburg to do the Opening address. The rest of the programme will include storytelling by Zanendaba Storytellers, poetry performance, a mass choir and traditional dancing.
The Gauteng Provincial Library Service will provide entertainment for the community. This will include traditional games, storytelling, a magician and face painting for the children. The Jo'burg Librarians of Region 6 and Region 10 will be actively involved in this programme as well. The Gauteng Provincial Library Service as well as the Kliptown Community Forum is arranging exhibitions for the day. Librarians from Jo'burg City will also be involved in this.
During this launch LIASA aims to make the community aware that libraries contribute to nation - building and improving the quality of life of all who use them.
For more information regarding the launch, please feel free to contact the LIASA National PRO, René Schoombee (0829409957).
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