Highlands library gets facelift

Entertainment Reporter
Highlands residents can now read in a refreshing environment after the Highlands Branch of the Harare City Library, was upgraded recently.

Harare City Library currently has three community branches situated in Mabelreign, Mount Pleasant and Highlands.

One of these branches, the Highlands Branch, situated along Kew Drive in Highlands (opposite Highlands Primary School and adjacent to local council offices) has been renovated and its book stock updated.

Thanks to the generous intervention of Tim Johnson, a Highlands resident passionate about books who played a major role in the renovations.

Chiedza Mateko, the library staff member looking after the day to day running of the Highlands branch, said renovations at the library have seen an increase in the number of users. Mateko said after the renovation, the library has begun to attract old and new users as it is now a comfortable place to be.

Tim Johnson and his wife, Joan and other volunteers, donated new paint and tiles, new books, chairs, desks and fixed the bookshelves. The toilets were revamped and the grass around the library cut. Tim Johnson’s act of kindness towards the library is indeed something all book lovers should be grateful for. There is no doubt that if the local library sector gets exemplary volunteers such as Johnson, reading would be a pleasurable experience for every community. “He is someone who has a big heart for the library and understands its importance,” said Mateko.

Other individuals and organisations involved in the refurbishment of the Highlands library included Leo Chitekwe, Tiles and Lights for Africa, Halsted Brothers, Astra Paints, Nicky Stevens’ Book Club, Mica Hardware-Telford, Pat Rooney, Hogg and Charles Salem. The Beit Trust also donated about 500 books.

Highlands is a serene, low-density suburb whose main users at the moment are senior citizens from all walks of life. With a new attractive look, and some new books in the children’s section, the branch is keen to see more children being accompanied by their parents and class teachers, visiting the revamped space. To encourage this Chiedza has started storytelling sessions for children. Currently, pupils from nearby Helena Primary School are benefiting from the sessions every Friday in the morning.

It costs just $20 a year for children to borrow books from the library ($5 dollars for three months). To borrow books, you must first be a library member, which requires a one-off fee of $20 in case a book is lost or damaged.

“It’s not about the fees or subscriptions but about developing a reading culture. I would be happy to see more children coming to the library because that way we develop a better reading culture in our country,” said Mateko. Children under 12 years can sit and use the space for free. Although Highlands Branch users are now happy with the refreshed reading space, the only challenge left at the library is the provision of internet, printing and photocopying services. Harare City Library hopes to provide connections to all the library branches. The Highlands branch is one of the oldest branches of the Harare City Library. Its foundation stone was laid in 1967.