“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” This is a quote that Dr Mathew Moyo, chief director for Library and Information Services (LIS) at the North-West University, lives by.

First uttered by American social reformer Frederick Douglass, the words capture the importance of book donations in enriching library collections, particularly in under-resourced communities.

"A single book can open up a world of possibilities for a young mind,” says Dr Moyo, whose Vanderbijlpark Campus library team celebrated South African Library Week from 18 to 24 March through community visits and book donations.

Under the theme “Libraries fostering social cohesion”, the campus’s library staff visited Phiritona Public Library and Sediba Thuto Secondary School in Phiritona, Free State.

This initiative aligns with LIS's mandate to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Providing access to diverse literary works aims to empower individuals and ignite a passion for lifelong learning, thereby fulfilling SDG 4 (quality education) and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities).

Book donations to libraries are vital, as they expand available resources and foster a culture of reading and continuous education. Libraries play an essential role in communities, serving as inclusive spaces where people can gather learn and grow together.

“As NWU LIS, we believe that each book has its reader and making these book donations widens the access to information because reading enlightens, empowers and gives freedom,” says Dr Moyo.

Through their efforts, the NWU Library staff has demonstrated that fostering a sense of community and shared learning is integral to achieving social cohesion and sustainable development.

As South Africa continues its journey towards unity and social cohesion, initiatives like these serve as beacons of hope, reminding us of the strength of solidarity and shared purpose and the Vanderbijlpark Campus library team's dedication to making a difference echoes the sentiment that libraries are not just repositories of books but also catalysts for change and instruments of empowerment.

LIS staff members proudly contribute to the school's growing library collection, fostering a love for reading among students.

Making a difference, one book at a time.

A community effort to promote literacy.