Libraries will always remain a special place

LIBRARIES have been a part of my life since I first learnt how to read. Growing up on a farm, I found the outdoors to be my reality, complete with a scorching sun and endless horizons, and books were the escape to an even more magical, imaginary world. our local community library in the small Karoo town was a treasure trove of new ideas, characters, and places.

My two younger sisters and I visited the library at least every second week, by which time we would have read the three books we were each allowed as well as each other’s – true bookworms in the making.

During high school we attended boarding school approximately 500 km from home,reducing library visits to holiday periods. the school library provided limited reading material but gave exposure to different genres which also included a wider variety of English books.

University changed the way I view libraries. It suddenly became a place of quiet refuge, away from the hustle and bustle that was the rest of campus. It is synonymous with group projects in small, soundproof study rooms or study sessions in “silent” areas.

It is a place filled with technology to enable students to produce work of a high standard even if they do not hard copy textbooks are for most students a welcome novelty in the new world of everything being strictly online. I often find myself feeling foolishly excited when being able to page through a book even if I do this while making summaries and notes on my laptop.

Do not get me wrong – it is very convenient to have e-books at the tips of your fingers and not having to leave the comfort of your home or room to go look for the desired textbook. however, the library still plays a pivotal role in this, as our access to academic e-books are hosted by the library website. readily have access to computers. Libraries at tertiary institutions offer students the opportunity to work from a hard copy textbook which for most of us is just unaffordable since buying all our study material is another couple of thousand rand per annum on top of tuition fees.

Recently my university’s library got additional significance in my life by offering me an employment opportunity. this helps significantly in enabling me to work towards another tertiary qualification while having bills to pay.

Libraries remain a special place and perhaps even more so in our modern, rushed society. All though the interior and facilities may change – a quiet place to study or take a breather combined with a warm smile from the lady behind the information desk will always be something any student can appreciate.

- Marita Rabe