Cultural Affairs and Sport
With regard to Library Services in the Western Cape:
(1) (a) Which libraries (i) have functional computer laboratories on their premises and (ii) do not have functional computer laboratories on their premises, (b) which libraries (i) have Wi-Fi services and (b)(ii) do not have Wi-Fi services and (c) who are the service providers for (i) computer equipment and (ii) Wi-Fi installations at these libraries;
(2) whether there are any digital programmes being offered at these libraries; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether her Department has a roll-out plan to bring digital services to all libraries; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
[1] [a] Which libraries
[i] have functional computer laboratories on their premises
There are 374 library service points in the Western Cape, 336 libraries have functional computer laboratories on their premises. [232 Libraries through DCAS’s Western Cape Library Service’s Rural Libraries Connectivity project, and 104 City of Cape Town libraries through Smart Cape]. The list is attached as Annexure A.
[ii] do not have functional computer laboratories on their premises,
There are 39 Libraries that do not provide computers for the public. In the City of Cape Town the Tygervalley Library does not have public computers due to a shortage of space. The list is attached as Annexure A.
[b] which libraries
[i] have Wi-Fi services
163 libraries have Wi-Fi services. The list is attached as Annexure A
[ii] do not have Wi-Fi services
166 libraries do not have Wi-Fi services yet. The list is attached as Annexure A.
[c] who are the service providers for
[i] computer equipment
DCAS Western Cape Library Service and City of Cape Town
[ii] Wi-Fi installations at these libraries.
- City of Cape Town is the service provider for sites in the metropole
- Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Western Cape Government provide service to sites outside the metropole service area.
[2] whether there are any digital programmes being offered at these libraries; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details.
Currently, there are no formal digital skills programmes at rural libraries within the Western Cape. In most of the smaller communities, the free internet services offered at the libraries are the only internet services available to those communities. DCAS appointed youth as Yeboneer ICT Cadets in public libraries to assist the public with in-house training and support to access and use the internet and software. The community make use of the public access computers for research, writing online exams, creating CVs, job hunting, and to upskill themselves on the general use of a computer and the internet.
The Department provides access to thousands of eBooks and audiobooks to all registered library members in the Western Cape. 32 mini libraries for the blind across the province provide access to information to visually impaired and blind citizens.
The I-CAN Learn programme that was offered at selected library sites in Bergrivier Municipality, through a collaborative agreement between the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism [DEDAT] has been cancelled due to a reprioritising of budgets by DEDAT. Alternative programmes such as Digify Bytes by Digify Africa are possibilities to be explored by the DCAS.
The City of Cape Town Metro offers digital library programmes at all libraries on SMARTCAPE. This includes: Typing Tutor which teaches library users how to type. Other digital programmes include: how to use Microsoft packages such as Ms Excel, Ms Word, how to do presentations and compile CV’s.
[3] whether her department has a roll-out plan to bring digital services to all libraries; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
In addition to the above-mentioned opportunities provided by the department, alternative programmes such as Digify Bytes by Digify Africa and others are being explored.
