The City of Cape Town’s Public Libraries will unfortunately be reducing service levels and opening hours as of 1 July 2010 due to budget cuts and the need to reallocate funding.
However, the good news is that due to an additional budget allocation to Libraries by the City during the recent budget vote the reduction in service hours will be short-lived. The appointment of additional staff will however have to follow the normal recruitment and selection process of the City and we are endeavouring to fill these posts by end September 2010.
The temporary reduction in service levels as from 1 July will, in particular, affect services at this library as follows:

• Reduced Library visits to crèches, schools and old-age homes, storytelling sessions, holiday programmes and Library orientation sessions

• Delays may also be experienced with respect to the processing of new materials and thus the availability thereof to the general public

• Reduced opening hours until such time as the additional staff are appointed.

Once competent staff have been recruited and appointed the opening hours for Pinelands Library will revert back to the hours they were open before the service level reduction. The Library and Information Services Department regrets the temporary inconvenience caused and wishes to reaffirm its commitment to quality and relevant services based on available resources.

Changes in hours for Pinelands Library as of 1 July:
Mon • 10:30 - 18:30
Tue • 10:30 - 17:00
Wed • 10:30 - 18:30
Thu • 10:30 - 17:00
Fri • 10:30 - 17:00
Sat • 09:30 - 12:00

Children’s storytime

(Children aged 4-8)
First and last Friday of the month from 15:45 - 16:45

Moms and Tots programme

(children aged 2 - 4)
First and last Wednesday of the month from 10:15 - 11:00.
Parents, grandparents and childminders are welcome.

What does this mean for you?

• The library will be closed from 1 to 7 August for staff training.
• On 10 August the library will reopen and start issuing books on the new system (Brocade). No books will then be issued on BookPlus
• All our patrons will need to have PALS membership cards.
click to see the notice
• Unfortunately BookPlus membership cannot be transferred to the new system and we all have to complete new membership forms. This includes the library staff!
• If a patron is not in possession of a PALS membership card, a new membership form must be completed.
Please bring the following with you:
• ID
• Proof of residence
• 2 contactable references

Why do we need a new system?

• BookPlus is no longer able to deliver an effective service to the community. The terminals and system is old and cannot be updated.
• Patrons will be able to access the system from the internet and do renewals of their own books
• The catalogues of not only Bookplus but also PALS library systems can be searched. This will provide access to more library materials.
• Some catalogue titles will have book reviews to make selection of books easier and more fun!

We are very excited to welcome you on the new system and request that you fill in a new membership form as soon as possible.
The staff is waiting to assist you!

For questions or queries:
samantha.christians@capetown.gov.za

Your library needs you!
your advice, help and bright ideas.

The Friends of Pinelands Library is a group of booklovers, readers and library users that share and support the aims of Pinelands library. They make a contribution to the community and supplement the service offered by the library.

Our Friends assist us with

• bookbinding & repairs
• shelving
• book, magazine & audiovisual sales
• book purchases.

Contact us to find out how you can become involved.

Read all the books by
your favourite author?
What now?

Try some of these links to lists suggesting authors similar to other well known writers.

• Nelson Library
• MNCLS
• West Sussex Library
• Canterbury Library

Pinelands library would like to thank everyone that participated in the survey. Your input will allow us to improve our service. We will keep you informed of the results.
With sincere thanks.
Pinelands library staff

Library cards must be used to check out library material and register on the Smart Cape System.

All Cape Town residents are welcome to join the library

They need to present an Identity Document, Passport, or Driver’s Licence and Proof of Residence (recent account) not older than three months

Visitors can also join

They need to supply a current holiday address.

For Children's Library Cards

Parents need to present birth certificates and sign for the cards.

How to apply

1. Click on this link to download and print a Library Card Application Form OR get a hard copy from the library issuing desk
2. Complete the form.
3. Hand deliver the form to the librarian at the library issuing desk.

Membership Types

City of Cape Town residents and their children

• There is no charge for the first library card
• Replacement card costs R16.00

Corporate

This membership is for local schools/day care centres, crèches, aftercares and old age homes.

• A maximum of 10 items can be issued on this card.
• The card can only be used at Pinelands Library.

Visitors

• Expiry date: Usually not longer than 3 months
• Pay R55 for one book issued per card holder OR
• Pay R110 for 2 books issued per card holder
• Waiting period for your brand new card is about 3 working days
• Waiting period for a replacement card is about 5 minutes

Intended Purpose

The library halls & activity rooms are not intended for social gatherings like birthday parties, political meetings or religious services. Their primary purpose is to provide a venue for cultural or community events. Availability of the venues is subject to the opening hours of the library. Sessions are divided into morning, afternoon and evening.

Venue Details

Library Hall • R100 per session • Capacity: 120
Committee Room • R55 per session • Capacity: 25
Kitchen • R35 per session

Library Hall

Committee Room

Books

A good selection of leisure and reference books.

Periodicals

A selection of current newspapers and magazines are available for reading in the library. Back issues of magazines can be borrowed.

Audiovisual Materials

A selection of music CD’s, Videos and DVD’s, Audiobooks & Language Courses.

Reference Services

Pamphlet Collections, Study Collections & Community Information

Children’s Services

Books for recreation and study, story hours and holiday programs

Computers & Internet Access

Free use of computers and Internet access for library users through SmartCape.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

By Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

When Juliet Ashton, a journalist and author, sold a spare copy of ‘The Selected Essays Of Elia’ (Charles Lamb), she little dreamt that it would end up on the Channel Island of Guernsey in the hands of a pig farmer Dawsey Adams.

Finding her name and address in the book and fired up to discover more of the joys of Lamb’s essays Dawsey writes to Juliet asking for guidance. This is the start of a delightful series of letters and other communications between Juliet in a 1946 London and members of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society as the Island slowly recovers from its occupation by the Germans in 1940. Other interesting persons are drawn into the letter writing circle including Juliet’s publisher. To say more about the Society, other than it was born out of a spur of the moment white lie, will deprive a future reader of a lot of enjoyment.

Do not be put off by the book’s title. Reading it takes one on a witty, wonderful and sometimes tragic journey encountering charming and amusing characters. The hardships and sometimes terrors inflicted by the German occupation are not forgotten and emerge in the letters. Eventually letters are not enough and Juliet visits the Island to experience the enchantment and meet these endearing characters. This book is one of those rather rare ‘feel good’ novels and brings back memories of ‘84, Charing Cross Road’ written by Helene Hanff in 1970.
Reviewed by Cynthia Lake

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