Deputy Executive Mayor, Thando Ngcolomba, calls on parents to encourage their children to visit libraries

Young creative minds were put to the test when the Nelson Mandela Bay Main Library hosted a number of children from Ward 5 and surrounding areas for a beadwork and story reading session. 

The session forms part of the school holiday libraries programme the Municipality is running in all the libraries across the city in attempt to keep children occupied, and to encourage reading and visiting libraries and participating in library activities and projects.

The aim was also to create an awareness among parents and children that there are other activities that the library is involved in that can benefit the children and teach them skills out of the formal library book reading programmes. 

Deputy Executive Mayor, Thando Ngcolomba, who is also political custodian for the programme, called on parents to bring their children to the libraries during the school holidays. The Deputy Mayor said that the libraries holiday programme was an important programme on the municipal calender. 

"By embarking on programmes like this we are planting a seed for the future. We have to teach our children to be friends of the library. They need to enjoy books, learn how to read with understanding at a young age and also attain other skills that they can use to sustain themselves in the future," stated Deputy Mayor Ngcolomba. 

He added: "These programmes will be on the Municipality's priority list. Empowering children is building a solid foundation for future generations and a better Nelson Mandela Bay".

More activities will be hosted in different libraries across the city until the end of the school holidays. Parents can visit the municipal website for a more detailed programme, with dates of the activities happening.