CoCT pleased with more than 18k library items returned as part of fine free week

The City of Cape Town says it is pleased with library patrons that have returned outstanding items.

In March, the municipality appealed to patrons to return some 35 000 items, as part of its fine free week that coincided with South African Library Week. These items cost the City an estimated R3.9 million.

ARCHIVE: Bush Radio's Mitchum George reading a children's book

Mayco Member for Community Services & Health, Patricia van der Ross, said more than 18 583 items had been returned, worth approximately R2,2 million, and accounting for roughly 52% of the outstanding items.

This is 16 828 more items returned than 2023, when only 19% of the more than 39 000 outstanding items made their way back.

Once again, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by author, Jeff Kinney topped the list of outstanding items.

INFO: City of Cape Town

‘’Ideally we would want every single item returned, but fifty percent is a far sight better than twenty, and so I want to thank those patrons who heeded the call, and returned their overdue material. Not only does it mean others can now enjoy these materials, but it is also a fresh start for those patrons whose fines have kept them away from the library,’’ said Patricia van der Ross, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.

‘’I also want to encourage others who are still holding on to overdue material to please come forward. Every book returned to the shelf is one more precious resource in our library collection and means that the available budget can be directed to growing that collection instead of merely replenishing it,’’ she added.

 

Done By: Mitchum George