Lotus River Library
The community of Lotus River is noticeably under-developed and unprivileged. Education levels are low, and crime and unemployment levels are high. The library is in the midst of grimy flats; the general appearance of the area is one of poverty and decay. Driving in, one gets the impression of a community without hope. Yet, in the heart of this despair, the Lotus River Library offers a measure of relief to its users.
From the outside, the library has quite an unprepossessing appearance. The library was built back-to-front, so the back of the library faces the road, and the front faces an empty field, the site of many a scene of horror.
The inside of the library is surprisingly bare. There is little furniture, and the book collection is relatively limited. It is not what you could call an attractive library. Yet the atmosphere is one of welcome and warmth. Smiles abound everywhere, from both staff and users. Strangers are greeted warmly and help is offered easily. There is a buzz of happy activity, and it is easy to see why the library is so well-used.
The SmartCape facility at Lotus River Library was upgraded last year. They have the new ADSL lines, so their internet is flying, as well being able to save documents onto flash drives. Since the upgrade, the library has seen the number of users increase steeply. They get users coming in from other areas in the Southern Suburbs, but some even from as far as Somerset West. They have lots of business-owners who use the computers for work purposes, but the vast majority of users are still learners and students. The librarian, Vincent Williams, says "Our children have nowhere to go afterschool. There is nowhere to play here- not a park, not a swimming pool. At least here they can find another world, and open their imaginations. If I can get another 10 computers, it still won't be enough."
We learnt a lot from our short visit to this library, and we found the staff to be very inspirational. If you are in the area, pay them a visit. They have lots of study space, the new Smartcape facility is of world-class standards in our opinion, and they even have a volunteer to help users rework their CVs to make them more marketable, with a convincing success rate too!
The Lotus River Public Library's contact details are:
Cnr 6th Avenue & Buck Road, Lotus River, 7941
Tel. 021 706 3793
