Masivuke Primary School pupils, in Brown’s Farm, have been urged to go to bed with a book.
On Friday October 28, the school celebrated Library Month, which is marked during October to encourage reading, particularly among young people.
At the event, reading groups from different classes read stories to the audience, while speakers called on young people to make reading a daily habit.
School librarian Xolelwa Dlwathi said the theme for this year’s celebration was “learn to decode your world” and she urged people to use libraries.
“We inculcate the culture of reading. We want children to start telling stories, read and use libraries to source information.
“Libraries are there to be used freely. That goes for ordinary people too,” she said.
“They should know that libraries are a source of information. We encourage reading hard books more than any other thing.”
Ms Dlwathi said reading enhanced children’s ability to think critically and that she was excited that most children had started using the library.
“Reading also increases their vocabulary, and their writing ability improves. We, therefore, should make children love reading,” she said.
Browns’ Farm senior librarian Babalwa Nqiwa urged children never to go to bed without reading a book.
She said residents did not use libraries because they believed they served pupils only.“We need to change the way they think about libraries. People should know that libraries provide information relevant to our livelihood and our country. Libraries are user friendly.
“That message must be sent to people, so they can use libraries. They need to know that there is also free wi-fi and free internet that they can use,” she said. Teacher Nomabhelu Tyembile said it was exciting to see children properly reading and telling stories.