Wednesday, October 16, 2019

HCL Newsletter, October 2019


(Official newsletter of the Harare City Library)


INTRODUCTION



We welcome you all to our October newsletter, hoping that you enjoyed the previous newsletter. In this latest issue, we celebrate literacy which undoubtedly is the backbone of enlightenment.  The celebration of International Literacy Day we had last month at the library was a memorable event that showcased young talent and also certain ideas relevant to the library were shared. We invite you to come and make use of the library as a venue for your events. Enjoy!


HCL DETERMINED TO PROMOTE LITERACY

The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Prof P Mavhima, speaking at the celebration of literacy held at the Harare City Library last month

The Harare City Library last month celebrated International Literacy Day which also presented an opportunity to reflect on the history of the library, its place in the global village and the future.
Running under the theme Literacy and Multilingualism in the Era of Inclusivity, the event was honored with the presence of the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Prof P Mavhima who said the theme was relevant because Zimbabwe is part of the global village. Also present was Mr. Farai Mpfunya, the Executive Director of Culture Fund Zimbabwe Trust, who tackled the topic ‘Libraries as Cultural Institutions’.
Five schools from Harare attended the celebration, provided musical entertainment and engaged in reading activities with senior writer Virginia Phiri while another writer Nomsa Ngwenya read passages from her Ndebele novel Izinyawo Zayizolo. The poet Dalitso thrilled the audience with his spoken word antics.
In his speech, Prof Mavhima viewed multilingualism as a major means of bringing multicultural understanding and achieving national development.
“Multilingualism is the basis upon which we can dialogue and co-exist, which leads to a better understanding of different states,” he said.
He highlighted why Zimbabwe should embrace multilingualism, saying people should accept the fact that youngsters are not going to be constrained to work in Zimbabwe only but for the global village and hence the need to prepare them through various means.
The new curriculum, he said, is structured in such a way that it embraces multilingualism and multiculturalism.
“We have taken the development of our languages very seriously. We now have sixteen officially recognized languages, including sign language,” he said.
Prof Mavhima added that languages such as Tonga are now being taught up to the Ordinary Level in all districts where the language is predominant.
“Proactively developing these languages is a way to building a nation. A proactive approach will make every group comfortable in being identified as a Zimbabwean,” said Minister Mavhima.
 He added that reading is what develops communication skills and people with good communication skills are considered to be good leaders.
 Mr. Mpfunya, Executive Director of Culture Fund, addressed the most difficult question asked each time cultural workers gather. What is culture?
He said there are two standpoints from which culture is viewed, that is, the traditional and the modern. However, he defined culture as ‘a process that looks at how people before us lived and responded to their daily needs of existence, things that allowed them to conquer the daily challenges. This process, he stressed, looks at the requirements and needs of today and then tries to see how we are responding to the challenges. He told guests at the commemoration that we also need to imagine how we may want to live in the future as we enter what is being called the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is an introduction of artificial knowledge into our daily lives. We have to start imagining what that is doing to what we call culture.
As regards the library in this definition of culture, Mr. Mpfunya said libraries need to go back to the past, assess the present and look into the future and by ‘future’ he said he means the ‘machine-dominated life’.
How refreshing it was to hear the truth from a culture expert that ‘knowledge and understanding of literacy did not start recently or in the colonial era, but started thousands of years ago on the continent of Africa.
“I think people in the past perceived libraries differently. Libraries were integrated into society – a life that was centered on interacting, they were spaces where one could ask questions. If young people are to understand the value of literacy, it is important that they first understand what culture is and they should not be subjugated to ignorance,” said Mr. Mpfunya.
Echoing the Minister’s call for young people to use the library as a space for innovation, Mr. Mpfunya said, “The library is going to be a place for knowledge and dreaming. The library is a very important player in aligning young people to be empowered by the power of dreaming and daring to imagine things none in their families or suburbs ever imagined. Libraries become spaces for innovation, challenging ideas and soon we will have ‘made-in-Zimbabwe’ inventions.”
The history of the current Harare City Library is an inspiring one. At the celebration, Mr. Chandaengerwa, a committee member of the HCL, provided a brief but amazing story of how a reading and recreation club in the pre-independent era developed through the years to become a resourceful city library.
From a club it evolved to become a small subscription-funded public library known as the Salisbury Public Library. The relationship between the library and the city council, which exists today, dates back to 1898 when the then Salisbury Town Council appointed a library committee.
The development of the library to its present day status, Mr. Chandaengerwa said, has demonstrated that the library is a bastion of excellence in terms of literacy.
 “It being an all-encompassing resource centre, it has seen people from all walks of life patronizing it and pursuing different life-changing careers. The HCL has helped mould the culture of reading which is critical to the development of this country especially in this environment where digital changes mean that if we are left behind we will not make it as a nation,” he said.
He too extended the call to young students present at the event to make use of the library. Young people, he said, are the real diamonds of this nation.
Students from Tafara 5 Primary School, Selborne Routledge School, Malbereign Girls High, and Kuwadzana 2 Primary School had a good time with Virginia Phiri who, on behalf of the International Board for Books for Young People (IBBY) which she chairs, engaged them in reading exercises and gave out book prizes.

Images from the Event



Teachers from different schools also received small donations of books from IBBY

A student reads a book

Virginia Phiri engaged students present at the celebration

Nomsa Ngwenya reading from her Ndebele novel Izinyawo Zayizolo


The Minister receiving a gift from the HCL committee member Mr. Chandaengerwa
 
Writers enjoying the proceedings

Some of the delegates


Every speech at the celebrations was interpreted in sign language

Poet Dalitso performing


Mr. Mpfunya presenting his speech
 
Mr. Chandaengerwa speaking


Disability does not mean inability: Beauty Ngwende, a visually impaired student from Mabelreign Girls High, playing the guitar.

Reading time!

Reading Time!

From left: Tsitsi Nomsa Ngwenya, Virginia Phiri, Culture Fund Executive Director Farai Mpfunya and Writers International Network Zimbabwe founder and director Beaven Tapureta


HCL HOSTS 2019 SHOKO FESTIVAL

 

The Harare City Library has become a perennial venue for the Magamba Network event. Shoko Festival is one of Zimbabwe’s international festivals of urban culture.
For a long time the festival has used the library as one of its major venues and this choice of venue has proved the potential of the space provided by the library for such activities of such immense magnitude.
This year, Shoko Festival ran under the theme Good Vibes Only from and some of its workshops were hosted by the library from September 27 to 29. The workshops included those on ‘Intellectual Property, Publishing Rights and Record Labels’, ‘Music Management’, and ‘State of the Internet’.
The HCL Assistant Librarian Takwana Masunda has urged individuals and organizations to take advantage of the library’s proximity to the city centre and its comfortable and hospitable facilities for their events.


HEALTH MATTERS!

Don’t Forget To Visit Our Resourceful ‘Consumer Health Corner’




The books available at the Health Corner were donated by the Rotary Club which received them from the Harare Distribution Committee of the Book Aid International. This information was left out in the article about the Health Corner launch in our previous newsletter. 


SOME GOOD NEWS!


Active Marketing International, a marketing, public relations and advertising consultancy, has come close to you now. The company provides services such as printing, binding, lamination, exhibition stands design, vehicle branding, billboards, screen printing, and embroidery. Visit the Harare City Library offices for more information.




THANK YOU FOR READING OUR NEWSLETTER












Monday, August 19, 2019

HCL NEWSLETTER, AUGUST 2019



(Official Newsletter of the Harare City Library)

INTRODUCTION
Mr. Matthew Chandaengerwa, HCL Committee Member (Fundraising and Publicity)
We welcome you all to our debut newsletter which has come to complement our other efforts in the provision of information regarding library activities. It is our sincere hope that this newsletter will be a valuable resource for our library users, staff, and all stakeholders in the local and international book sector. The HCL Newsletter mainly seeks to capture and convey to readers everything happening at the library and elsewhere in the library and information sector. Our blog is running and that is another reason why we are glad with our mission to provide timely relevant information. Everyone is free to comment and suggestions or inquiries are welcome.
Do not forget to join us in September for the International Literacy Day celebrations.
Enjoy your read! 

HARARE CITY LIBRARY OPENS CONSUMER HEALTH CORNER

Mr. Chisambare Douglas Katengo, the Rotary Club 2019/20 District Governor from Zambia, addressing guests at the official launch of the Library Consumer Health Corner

The Harare City Library now runs a Consumer Health Corner which will provide and promote health information for the well-being of individuals and the community at large. The Health Corner, officially launched at the library on August 8, 2019, is a result of a partnership between the Library, the Rotary Club and the University of Zimbabwe Medical School Library.
Before the launch, guests from Rotary Club, City of Harare and the UZ Medical School Library toured the library and familiarized with certain library information nooks such as the computer center/ internet cafĂ©, the Doris Lessing Collection corner and the Petina Gappah Children’s Library. 
His Worship, Mayor of the City of Harare Clr Herbert Gomba was represented by Clr Hammy Madzingira.
Speaking at the official opening, guest of honor Mr. Chisambare Douglas Katengo, the Rotary Club 2019/20 District Governor from Zambia said even though the Club has donated physical books to the corner, the club must adapt by way of embracing new technology so that it can provide digital equipment to the health corner for it to be able to accommodate all ages and kinds of people, including people living with disability (PLD).
“As Rotarians, I want us to adapt, change with the times and make the best out of what we do,” he said.
The Rotary Club donated various medical books but the district governor promised the library that there will be more books coming covering various non-medical subjects. 
Mr. Katengo, whose district governorship covers Malawi, Mozambique North, Zambia and Zimbabwe, also said that the Zimbabwe will be honored with a visit by the Rotary International President next year in March. He said that the Rotary International President will be visiting Chitungwiza for a medical project happening there. 
The official handover of medical books to the library marked the beginning of a long relationship between the HCL and the Rotary Club. 
“We will make sure that the echoes of the Rotary footprints will remain etched in our minds and actions for a long time to come,” said the library committee member Mr. Matthew Chandaengerwa (Fundraising and Publicity).
According to Masimba Muziringa, the UZ Medical School Librarian who attended the ceremony, the collaboration with the HCL to build a Consumer Health Corner started some time in 2015 when they realized the need to provide reading resources that are patient-centered and thus serve ordinary consumers who need assistance to deal with certain diseases. He said he was grateful for the contribution made by the Rotary Club Harare Central. 
The Rotary Club Harare Central was chartered in 1973 with a mission to “improve the livelihood of the communities through service in respect of the six avenues of service, and to provide business and professional people an opportunity for service through ethical standards, fellowship and goodwill”.

Images from The Launch
HCL Librarian Mr. Tariro Dube (left) share a lighter moment with Mr. Eldred Mutasa, one of HCL Trustees, and some Rotary Club (Harare Central) officials

Delegates enjoy tour of the library 

Official handover of books by Rotary Club
A job well done!

HCL AT THE 2019 ZIMBABWE INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR

Primary school children listen attentively during a session at the Children's Reading Tent

The Harare City Library participated at the 2019 ZIBF Children's Reading Tent represented by Mr. T. Masunda and Mr.  C Nhira. Children from various schools in Harare who attended the Children’s Reading Tent enjoyed different sessions (readings, storytelling, discussions, etc.) and games. What was interesting at this year’s Reading Tent was the teaching of sign language and braille reading facilitated by Grosscare International, one of the partners of the Harare City Library. Another HCL partner, IBBY which was represented by renowned writer Virginia Phiri and Mr. Greenfield Chilongo, also took its time to entertain and teach the children several skills including reading, writing and storytelling.

DANCE TO BOOKS…
As M & M Dance Factory Invades Harare City Library
Sean Mambwere, a dancer from M & M Dance Factory

A member of M & M Dance Factory grooves it at the Harare City Library during a dance video shooting

Three guys from M & M Dance Factory, namely, Sean Mambwere, Terrence Kapesa and Tichaona Chikara, displayed their intricate modern dance moves against a backdrop of bookshelves during a dance video shooting done at the Harare City Library on Saturday, August 17, 2019.
34-year old Mambwere, who also teaches dancing at the Factory, said they chose the library as a venue for the video shooting in order to capture the lovely scenery of books which somehow will inspire young people to read. 
The gifted trio danced to the song titled No Days Off and shot the video in different places within the library.
“The song to which we were dancing is called No Days Off, meaning that there is no rest if one wants to achieve something. We chose the library because it’s all about studying or reading and the people using the library here are working hard to get to the level they want in life,” Mambwere said. 
The M & M usually shares the videos online as part of their means to reach out with a positive message to many people who want to pursue their dreams in dancing.

“One of the things we love doing is documenting our creativity and then sharing online to inspire other kids who have the same talent. Out of these videos we hope to attract more students to our classes so we can train them to be the best dancers,” said Mambwere. 
The M&M Dance Factory, he added, works with schools and currently there are 14 schools engaged. Every second term, an annual production of all the dances from the schools is put together and showcased at Reps Theatre for everyone to see.
Mambwere expressed his gratitude to the Harare City Library for welcoming them and making their dance concept worthwhile.



FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Commemoration of International Literacy Day

Date: September 13, 2019

Venue: Harare City Library


FLASHBACK 
Some of the books donated by Book Aid International

Last month, the Harare City Library received book donation from its long-time friend Book Aid International which has continued to support libraries in Zimbabwe. 
The books donated are mainly academic and will benefit medical students. 
In an interview, HCL Librarian Mr. Dube thanked Book Aid and called upon colleges and universities to link up with the library and make use of these books.
“We are actually happy, especially as we are a not-for-profit organization which survives on donor support and subscriptions. We are indebted to Book Aid International for this donation,” said Mr. Dube.
HCL is the secretariat to the local chapter of the Book Aid International and is the distribution center for Harare.
According to Mr. Dube, Book Aid International has in the past supported the HCL with books and also played a major role in the refurbishment of the Children’s Corner, also known as the Petina Gappah Children’s Library. As it is said in the Bible, blessed is the hand that gives, HCL is blessed because it has also donated books to schools and organizations such as WIN.
In Zimbabwe, Book Aid International has been a force to reckon with in the promotion of reading culture and support of higher education.
“By supplying relevant, specialist and up-to-date books to university and higher education libraries in Zimbabwe we are able to support a great many students who would otherwise have little access to books and the information they need to pursue their studies,” it says on its website.
Book Aid International is UK’s leading international book donation and library development charity. Its vision is a world where everyone has access to the books that will enrich, improve and change their lives.
The HCL later received another donation of books from the Embassy of Brazil in Zimbabwe. Many of the books donated were in Portuguese language, making it a beautiful cultural exchange.

Mr. Takwana Masunda (above), HCL Assistant Librarian, shows some of the books recently received from the Embassy of Brazil in Zimbabwe





Let’s meet again in September!









Thursday, August 8, 2019

HCL Newsletter Coming Soon







Dear Friends,


The Harare City Library is excited to inform you that it will be publishing a regular newsletter here on the blog soon. We are very sure you will enjoy the different news and information about what's happening at the library and in related areas. If you want to receive a notification or link to the newsletters, please send us your email.

Thank you.



Poetry Workshop At Library






The Harare City Library will be closed on the 13th of July 2019 to accommodate a poetry workshop that will be taking place. The main aim of the workshop is to share insights and sensitize schools on the elements of poetry and how to draw strong linkages between the identified themes and gender-based violence.We apologize for the inconveniences caused to our regular partners and visitors.


Thank you.