CAPE TOWN — In a powerful stride toward education equity, a local NGO launches 100th school library this week, setting a new benchmark for literacy support in South Africa. The Bookery, a Cape Town-based nonprofit organisation committed to promoting reading in under-resourced schools, has chosen Montana Primary School in Kalksteenfontein as the site for this significant milestone.
Scheduled for Thursday, the launch of this 100th School Library is not just a celebration of numbers—it’s a testament to the enduring belief that every child deserves access to books, learning, and the joy of reading, regardless of where they live.
Founded in response to the national literacy crisis, The Bookery has spent over a decade working to bring libraries and reading culture into public schools across South Africa. Since its inception, the NGO has collaborated with educators, volunteers, and donors to create safe, welcoming, and fully stocked school libraries in communities where books are often a rare commodity.
With the unveiling of the 100th school library, The Bookery solidifies its role as a key player in South Africa’s literacy landscape. Each of the libraries established by the organisation is custom-curated, professionally managed, and designed to foster both reading for enjoyment and learning.
Local NGO Launches 100th School Library at Montana Primary, Marking a Milestone in Education Equality
The choice of Montana Primary School in Kalksteenfontein as the site for the 100th library is symbolic. This community, like many others in the country, faces socio-economic challenges that limit access to educational resources. For many learners at Montana Primary, this new library will be their first real interaction with a space dedicated to books and reading.
Shelley De Wet, Managing Director of The Bookery, explained the intention behind this milestone:
“At The Bookery, we believe that every child deserves to experience the joy and the power of reading. We’re hoping to inspire a generation of readers. We’d love the school community to embrace the library as a tool to support and improve their literacy.”
But the organisation does more than just donate books. The Bookery designs libraries as dynamic, engaging spaces where children feel safe, welcome, and inspired. These are not sterile book storage rooms—they are community reading hubs that offer learners the chance to dream, learn, and grow.
“We also create a beautiful space somewhere that children feel welcome and safe, where they can be inspired—even to lose themselves in a book, but also possibly find themselves: become activists, writers, leaders, scientists,” De Wet added.
Each library features age-appropriate, high-quality literature, often in multiple South African languages, to reflect the diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds of the students.
Central to The Bookery’s mission is the concept of “reading for enjoyment”—a critical step toward developing a culture of reading and ultimately improving academic performance.
De Wet emphasises that fostering a love for reading is just as important as academic literacy:
“One of the key things that we focus on is reading for enjoyment as a step towards reading for learning.”
The Bookery also trains School Library Assistants from local communities, providing employment and skill development, while helping schools manage the libraries effectively.
The success of each School Library depends not only on the school, but also on the community. The Bookery works closely with parents, caregivers, and local leaders to promote reading at home. Encouraging families to engage in reading discussions helps to reinforce literacy as a shared value and habit.
“Creating reading discussions between family members at home is also important,” De Wet noted. “When children see their parents or caregivers engaged with books, it validates reading as something enjoyable and worthwhile.”
While this milestone is cause for celebration, The Bookery is not slowing down. The organisation has set its sights on expanding beyond the Western Cape, with plans to replicate its model in other provinces.
Their goal: to establish 200 libraries by 2030, doubling their reach and impact in underserved schools nationwide.
As this local NGO launches 100th school library, it sends a powerful message: access to books is not a privilege—it is a right. Through its commitment and grassroots partnerships, The Bookery is reshaping the education landscape, one School Library at a time.
With literacy forming the foundation of all learning, this milestone is more than just a number—it’s a gateway to opportunity for thousands of children across South Africa.
Source- EWN
