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Library & Information Services
22 Solomon Street
Braamfontein
Johannesburg
South Africa
enquiries@cojelearning.org.za
enquiries@cojelearning.org.za
The Library and Information Services Directorate is the local gateway to knowledge and provides basic access for education and lifelong learning as well as intellectual development for all citizens in the City. City of Johannesburg public libraries are hubs of education, giving residents access to books, magazines and audio-visual materials to assist with studies, career, and business or personal development. Besides lending out material, the City’s 89 libraries offer a wide-range of other services including literacy classes, storytelling sessions for youngsters, classroom support, gatherings for older residents and literary competitions. Libraries also provide venues for lectures, exhibitions, community meetings and organized training sessions.
The Directorate is responsible for the following:
Provision of free and safe library access to deliver lending services, educational support, reference and research services, and study space;
Provision of free and guided access to knowledge and information to assist users of all ages in their need for information, education, recreation and lifelong learning;
Reading promotion such as storytelling, holiday programs, displays and reading programs to encourage reading and learning.
Provision of free and safe library access to deliver lending services, educational support, reference and research services, and study space. Provision of free and guided access to knowledge and information to assist users of all ages in their need for information, education, recreation and lifelong learning; Support reading and writting development to encourage reading, creative writting and learning.
eLearning ( digital information services, digital literacy activities)
Education and Information Literacy
Reading Development Programs
Extended Services to correctional services, old age homes, and places of safety
Outreach services to ECD centres, schools and home based centres
Collection development and management.
The City of Johannesburg eLearning Services were introduced into the library environment to ensure the inclusion of the communities of the City of Joburg in the digital economy.
The concept of elearning is generelly defined as “the use of technologies to support learning and teaching”. It allows for accessnto learning content from PCs, laptops, tablets/ipads and smart pones, both online and offline. It can happen within a classroom environment or visual access(digital access) to learning materials, and it is not restricted by physical location or set lesson times.
In City of Johannesburg Libraries, eLearning refers to the support provided by the libraries through electronic tools such as computers, tablets, facilities such as elearning classrooms and training on how to access electronic information by provision of free internet.
Free WI-FI in libraries is enabled by the citys wi-fi, where as a library user you can access information on the internet using your own smart device. You can bring your smart device such as laptop, your cellphone, your tablet and etc to access free wifi at your library in a safe environment. This means you do not have to travel far to town or visit internet cafes or hotspots in an unsafe area. At the library you can ask for assistance to find websites and apps that can help you in your studies or business or for your self development. ELearning classrooms are equipped elearning facilities within selected libraries, where library users participate in organised activities and informal digital literacy activities. In the eLearning classrooms you can type, print or save documents. You can access uploaded content to be used offline- for example Microsoft Digital Literacy modules and coding videos. You can participate in various digital literacy activities and events such as coding, and computer skills training. In classrooms where there is internet, you can even send emails and look for jobs or do your school or college assignments. Library staff can also suggest websites to use for studies, career, and business or personal growth. You can search for online courses from various institutions available on different search portals or from website. eResources (ebooks, online journals, online magazines and online newspapers).
Library users can access online resources that are subscribed to, by City of Johannesburg libraries, such as e-books, online newspapers and articles from our electronic resources collection. Library staff are always available to help you to access eresources from your own device or from the library computers.
Library and information services run five city-wide programmes, with additional eLearning programs supporting the 5 , embracing the strategic priorities noted in the City’s Human Development Strategy (2006)
* eLearning (ICT-based) programmes also supporting the 5 main programmes.
* To build prospects for social inclusion amongst all Johannesburg communities.
* To address inequalities through the championing of rights and opportunities, with special focus on women and children.
* To improve access by poor and vulnerable households to library and information services.
This programme is driven by gamification and edutainment where library users are introduced to various educational activities on how to use mobile devices such as tablets, smart phones, and laptops, productively for their personal and career development. These include: teaching users how to access relevant apps, ebooks and other digital content; how to write stories and publish them on digital platforms, and engaging users in gamification activities such as “action bound and treasure hunt”, or “Tanks Coding games”. These gamification activities introduce users, particularly children, to various uses of technology (Learning through play).
Digital Literacy
This programme focuses on supporting communities by providing access to digital skills training content, for all levels (basic, intermediate and advanced). This include providing in-house assistance and informal training to users who are beginners, in using computers. For example, by inviting schools for organized eLearning quiz competitions, inviting partners and collaborators (NGO’s and companies) to provide formal training for selected digital skills based on the community needs. Providing access to carefully selected websites with online courses on digital skills. Digital Literacy is defined by the American Library Association as the ability to use Information and Communication Tools (ICTs) to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills. As part of digital transformation, all libraries in regions are encouraged to organize digital literacy programs or activities where they possibly can which will result in library users gaining new or improving on existing digital skills. Either through resource sharing, or through collaborations with external partners such as ICT NGO’s and companies that can train communities, or they can come up with their own innovative ways of helping communities learn new digital skills.
Within Digital literacy, we also have a Mobile Literacy program
This programme is driven by gamification and edutainment where library users are introduced to various educational activities on how to use mobile devices such as tablets, smart phones, and laptops, productively for their personal and career development. These include: teaching users how to access relevant apps, ebooks and other digital content; how to write stories and publish them on digital platforms, and engaging users in gamification activities such as “action bound and treasure hunt”, or “Tanks Coding games”. These gamification activities introduce users, particularly children, to various uses of technology (Learning through play).
Mobireadathon
Mobi-Readathon is a reading development program aimed at introducing high school youth to reading and writing tools available on mobile devices. This reading development program is also an attempt address some of the challenges brought by the Covid19 pandemic where libraries and schools have had to adapt and embrace technology for learning, reading development and information services in general. Digital Transformation in libraries also challenges libraries to repackage traditional programs or introduce new programs that involve use of technology. The idea is to not only engage learners in a reading activity using technology, but also introduce them to Mobile Literacy (how to use their smart devices productively to find books and to even write stories later) and how to navigate digital platforms to find reading material.
Schools compete regionally, reading selected stories either uploaded onto ereaders, OR they use their own mobile devices such as smart phones, tablets, or laptops to read selected stories from recommended platforms such as FunDza.mobi or on this website.
Coding Programs
Coding is about giving instructions to a computer telling it what to do with rules that computers can understand. Libraries have always played a supportive role and worked with schools and educational institutions in their curriculums and the Department of Basic Education has introduced coding as one of the additional subjects. LIS needs to be at the forefront in preparing communities and educators for this change. Most township schools are under resourced and do not have electronic resources such as laptops or tablets or computer rooms. ELearning’ services in libraries provide this support by also collaborating with NGO’s and corporations that can provide digital literacy training so that communities can be skilled in creating technology such as websites, apps, and robots. Coding activities in libraries also encourage youth to embrace computer science through coding classes after school, on weekends or during school holidays and through organized competitions.
Other Programmes
Story Skirmish
The Story Skirmish is a book-based inter-school, knock out quiz for younger, less skilled readers in English aged between 9 and 11 years in Grades 4 and 5. The aims are to broaden children’s reading experience and to improve reading skills. During 2019/20, 255 schools participated in the Story Skirmish programme.
Battle of the Books
The Battle of the Books is a book-based inter-school knock out quiz for learners in Grades 6 and 7. The aims are to broaden children’s reading experience and to improve reading and comprehension skills. During 2019/20, 257 schools participated in the Battle of the Books programme.
Ready to Read!
The programme focuses on the vital role that pre-literacy skills play in children’s reading and general academic development. The programme targets children in day-care centres, crèches and nursery schools, who do not have access to books (print poor environment). During 2019/20 books were issued and returned to 208 ECD centres monthly.
Indigenous Reading Development Programme
The Indigenous Reading Development programme is aimed at Grade 1-3 learners in support of reading in the mother tongue. It is intended that the programme should instil respect for indigenous languages, a love for reading in the mother tongue and the desire for life-long reading and learning in any language.
The programme is offered in regions throughout the city where an indigenous language is taught as a first language. Thus far, for 2019 the total number of schools was thirteen (13).
Science Scuffle
An inter-school knockout quiz for learners in Grades 6 & 7 using special library collections on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The programme aims to enhance skills in searching for information and to create an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. For the 2019 programme, 266 schools registered to participate in the quiz.
Holiday programmes
An organized schedule of activities that are planned and held during school holiday periods. The activities are aimed at providing a wide variety of fun related learning and reading experiences to children of all ages, especially children from disadvantaged communities. The activities are offered free of charge during library hours to members and non-members.
Story Times
Most libraries host regular Story Times during the week for children of specific age groups, including digital sotrytelling on Facebook. These story times involve reading stories from Library books followed by fun activities and games related to the story, to enhance children’s cognitive skills and encourage them to read. Story Times are also done when Nursery Schools and Pre-Schools visit the Libraries. Children are accompanied by a teacher and the story time is done by Library staff. It usually also involves Library Orientation, user education and children being encouraged to join the library.
Information Literacy Programme
Formal professional Information Literacy sessions making use of the manual on Library Orientation, Reference Enquiries with groups of children focusing on importance of libraries, becoming members, user education, different sections of a library, the importance of reading, resource and services offered as well as programmes offered by libraries, etc.
Study, Reference and Research support
This service is offered to all learners of all ages to assist them with reference and study enquiries and projects by making use of library material as well as internet searches if necessary. It also involves more advanced research support when required.
Homework Assistance
This programme is geared towards supporting and assisting all children (including vulnerable children) with homework and projects on a daily basis or as required.
Business Information Support through Business Workshops:
This programme is delivered targeting women and youth. Small Business Workshops are held to assist predominantly women and youth to enter the workplace and become employable. Workshops are done by library staff in partnership with presenters from invited partners e.g. banks, businesses in the area, colleges, etc. This programme is rendered at specific identified libraries.
Youth Programmes
Special programmes hosted at Libraries focusing on the youth and their needs e.g. Study Skills; CV Writing, Job Interview Skills, etc.
Book Talks
Book Talks are organized from time to time at identified Libraries in the city where authors are invited to Libraries to host the book talks.
Reading Circles/Book Clubs:
Reading Circles/Book Clubs are held on a regular basis at several libraries in the City, often at libraries that have Friends of the Library. Members belonging to the Reading Circles/Book Clubs all read different books and review them and then meet on a monthly basis to discuss these new books.