March 20 2023 marked the start of South African Library Week, which celebrates our intellectual and literary heritage. The theme for this year is “Libraries: telling powerful stories”. Libraries use this annual event to market services to the broader community, civil society and decision-makers. The City of Johannesburg’s public libraries aims to provide world-class library and information services that will play a vital role in the lives of all the residents. Residents who have kept books beyond their submission date won’t be fined when they return them during Library Week.

One recently developed library that embodies this vision is the Paterson Park Sports and Recreation facility, which was implemented by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) on behalf of the City of Johannesburg.

It offers learning facilitation through a state-of-the-art library and a craft centre to facilitate artistic expression and growth. Residents uses the theatre for community shows, presentations and recitals.

The library aligns with the city’s priority of an active and engaged citizenry and showcases new digital technologies and services.

The library offers various services such as lending services (print and online), reference service and research support, and study space and support.

It also facilitates programme implementation such as reading development programmes, (homework assistance, story hours, holiday programmes), and eLearning programmes (digital literacy activities) for all age groups.

A selection policy for the public libraries of the City is of basic importance to the library services, both for present services and future potential. The Paterson Park Library fulfils various community-centred roles:

• Lending/use of books and other library materials as well as to provide information packages for school projects.
• Provision of space and seating for study purposes in relation to the available space in the library.
• Remote access to a number of electronic resources such as eBooks.
• The introduction of the eLearning programme is the key driver in bridging the digital divide among the citizens of the City. Digital literacy training affords library users the ability to use digital information sources confidently and critically, communication tools and networks for learning, collaboration, and creation.
• Provision of information in response to enquiries (reference and study services – also with the assistance of the Internet that is accessible to the librarian).
• Information Literacy Training to improve information literacy skills of library users to recognize when and why they need information and to be able to locate, evaluate and use the needed information.
• Advice, assistance, and reader guidance in relation to resources and their usefulness.
• Arranging, facilitating, and presenting talks, lectures, exhibitions, and other informational activities.
• Children services to promote reading and the fun of libraries, such as storytelling.
• Programmes that promote commemorative events, library week, holiday programmes, World Book Day, Literacy Day.

Paterson Park Sports and Recreation facility is an example of how the JDA has been instrumental in implementing infrastructure for the city, creating safe spaces for young people, allowing youth development, and providing an alternative to the toxic environments they may encounter.

From a development perspective, the Paterson Park project allowed people to have input into the development of their community.

​The planning phase of the projects started in 2015 and continued into 2016. Public consultation for the facility took place in 2016.

The JDA appointed the contractor – GVK Siya Zama, in May 2019 to build the Paterson Park Sports and Recreation Centre. In addition to the new state-of-the-art library, the scope of works included a new multipurpose sports centre and administration building.

The multipurpose sports centre element of the facility includes a full-size soccer field, two smaller five-a-side fields, two tennis courts, a multi-court, and a basketball court, with a pavilion, offering a range of new programmes and activities. In addition, the park offers an enclosed multi-functional sports hall with a fully equipped gym.

A security house, and generator, to ensure optimal functionality and the creation of adequate, safe, and accessible adjacent parking. Construction works reached practical completion in September 2020.

23/03/2023