New St Augustine’s library a treat for bookworms

St Augustine’s Roman Catholic Primary School, in Wynberg, launched its new library, filled with 4 000 books, on Friday May 13.

Principal Erin Groepes said their old library was refurbished thanks to The Bookery, an NPO which sets up and supports functional school libraries across the country.

The Bookery had also sourced funding from the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust chairperson, Janet Marx, for the library.

“The students from the University of Cape Town (UCT) painted a mural on the library wall and some of our staff helped paint the walls,” said Ms Groepes.

She said the importance of the library is to encourage pupils to read. “We teach them to create a love for books and to read, so that they can improve their language.”

The 770 pupils will have the privilege to read a book and “use their imagination to transport them to another world”, said Ms Groepes.

St Augustine’s Primary will be 80 years old next year.

Sean Farrell, chairperson of The Bookery, said: “This is the 47th library we have launched in the Western Cape and Gauteng.”

The Bookery sets up school libraries in under-resourced communities with the aim of showing the positive impact they bring to schools and pupils, both academically and culturally.

Ms Groepes thanked all those who were involved in refurbishing their library and The Bookery who helped source items, including popular books, and who made sure there was a trained librarian at the school.