Steemit Engagement Challenge S3W1 - Which places in your hometown are little known but worth visiting by @patjewell
Ballito Public Library
A book which is falling apart might not have value in money but the value it has added to those who has hold it and read it cannot be measured.
Today I am taking you to a place you might not expect to visit.
- It is not a secret place where elves and fairies dance in the grass and
- It is not hidden in the beauty of nature
BUT, it is indeed a place not known or even forgotten by many local residents and for sure not visited by holiday makers and tourists.
I am taking you on a visit to the public library in my hometown, Ballito, in the province of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
Location: 51 Compensation Beach Rd, Ballito, Dolphin Coast, 4399
Location - what3words
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Yes, I know and believe me I would have asked the same questions.
Tourist info
We’ve just moved to Ballito at the end of May with the result that the area is still very new to me. After dropping my hubby at work yesterday morning I somehow made the wrong turn.
Now, it could have been that I was too engaged listening to the talk on the radio or it was that I was mesmerized by the blue of the ocean.
When I realized I made the wrong turn I turned off the road and noticed a round, brown building just behind the fence. Curios I wanted to know more and drove into the grounds. To my amazement I discovered the municipal library.
Does libraries still exist? Not where I come from. The Internet, smart phones and e-books are the “in” thing.
Later the day I had to do some shopping and decided to ask ten of the locals in the shopping mall if they know where the Ballito Library is.
| People questioned | Knowledge about the library |
|---|---|
| 1 person | Knew and could tell me where it was |
| 2 people | Knew there was a library but could not remember where it was |
| 7 people | Didn’t know that Ballito had a library |
That my Steemian friends is why I decided on sharing Ballito’s library with you today. Who knows, we might just find elves and fairies dancing but this time between the pages of the books in the children section.
I spoke to one of the librarians Me. Delishia Mahadew and she gave me some shocking facts;
The children section
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On my visit to the library itself I was expecting to see books covered in dusts, books falling apart and books which are totally outdated. It was not the case.
- There were over 10,000 books to choose from
- The books were in good condition and I could also find a good selection
- The librarians on duty, two of them, was friendly and helpful
- The various sections was clearly marked
- There is a dedicated section for students to study. Not nearly as to what you seen in the movies but nevertheless
- The kiddies section not only had books but also puzzles for the children to build
- They lend a helping hand to children from the rural areas who have school task and projects to complete
- As Ballito is a holiday destination for many there were ample stands with brochures, tourist information, local newspapers and business directories. An information hub on its own
- The library offers extra services like printing. You can email them what you want to print or take a flash drive and they will do the printing for you
- Best of all they have a e-book section to which you can subscribe with a catalogue of ample books to choose from
- Great news! It offers free and safe parking
What saddens me was that in the period I was there nobody else came into the library. Will this beautiful place also close its door in the near future? Is this the future of so many more libraries?
The main library
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Whether you're a family looking for something new and fun to do, a tourist who wants to know more about the town and area or if you are a holiday maker looking for “where to find” or “what to do”, this library is a must visit.
- It is a community centre for learning
- It is a resource centre
- It is a free public space for the community
- It is a quiet and peaceful place to sit and discover your inner self
- It is centre which can be visited by all, families, students, the elderly…
- It is an information hub
- It is rich with history
Does this place tick all the boxes of this contest? Without any doubt!
Interesting place? ✔
Not known by many fold? ✔
Is it worth taking the time to see? ✔
And there it is, something you did not expect to read about. A round, brown "gem", Ballito Public Library!
Pamphlets for tourists
10% to @steemindiaa
I invite:
@sualeha
@tangwe-rene
@ubongudofot
oh. i see., i will say i almost forgot library still exist but. after coming across this post. i think i will be visiting a library soon enough. a lot of knowledge is hidden in book that the internet can't provide all. thanks for sharing with us ma'am
Best of all, the facts in books are true whereby the facts on the internet cannot always be trusted!
Thank you for visiting my post and engaging with it.
I am looking forward to your entry. (•ิ‿•ิ)
very nice entry from your side. best of luck. I like the way you asked some people about the library. I would have never thought of that.
Thank you! It was such a nice experience and I truly enjoyed the whole "trip" and the writing of the post.
Thank you for reading and engaging with my post. It is appreciated
@patjewll, this is an elaborate library worthy of proper usage, how I hope people will celebrate it by usage though this these our library is in our phones. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the visit my friend.
Best of all, I found another library in town. One close to the shopping center where I like to shop but I am afraid it won't be long before they close down which is so sad :-(
😂😂😂, maybe you plan to get there earlier than usual so you can get them on seat, thanks my mentor, I appreciate your works!!.
It is me who must say thank you for the great words!! Thank you!! 🎕
Thank you so much ma'am and have a great day.
Thank you my friend. A lovely day to you also 🎕
Thanks, thanks and thanks 👍😊
All the best. You explained the library near your place very well. #Library and #steemit both are same because we read a lot and gain abundant knowledge from both.
Thank you! I was stunned that so little of the locals knew about it.
It will be a pity if it indeed close down as your words are so true. We can only gain knowledge from it.
Excellent blog once again 👍👍
I am impressed already yours way of writing,your ideas, it's true the library is one of the best place that had big worth
Good luck dear🤞🤞for contest ,I will try to participate thanks for inviting me ☺️☺️
Thank you for your engagement my friend. I remembered how my mom took us to the library when we were little. Today the kids would rather sit with their iPad's.
I hope that the beauty of this library will live on for a very long time.
Public libraries are uncommon but private libraries and college libraries are still very common. My brother is paying more than 1K INR per month to attend a library. His library is fitted with AC and library has many students preparing for same exam and they get to interact with each other whenever needed .
Thanks
It is the same in South Africa. You will get libraries at the universities and colleges for their students. Some schools may also have it but most of them is phasing it out for computer centers.
As a normal citizen I can not longer say that "I am going to the library" as what we did many years ago.
We also have a lot of libraries which were burned down during riots and which were just never replaced.
Hence that I have written that I have discovered a gem!
Thank you for engaging with my post!!!
The library looks cozy, when I was in school my favorite places is the library room, coz I love sit at there and read a book.
Good luck for the contest dear and thanks for sharing with us about the place in your home town
Do you still get public libraries in your town? We don't get them in the city where I lived before. Only at varsity and college.
I also loved our library when I was young.
My stepson actually asked me today what is a library.. shocking!
Thank you for your support! 🎕
This most be a very interesting place , i can imagine.
And with these features, trust me i could live there untill i am pleaded to vacuate the premisses ...
Hopefully when i visit South Africa, i wouldnt miss visiting Ballito Library.
Thank you for the invitation, i'll sure drop mine tomorrow
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your visit my friend!
I hope and pray that it will still be there. It will be so sad to see it close down. It is something we should safe keep for our children and their children.
Oh my, your introduction is a key to falling in love with your writing
The balitto library, the name sound hidden itself, but I can't even find one in my environment, to visit one I have to go to the main city which is miles away.
You have truly found a gem, a rare place with less publicity but with a thousand benefits.
You are lucky to find such a place,
Greetings.
Thank you for your kind words my friend.
We moved from the city and believe me, there wasn't a library near us. There was once upon a time but they closed down.
We can just keep fingers cross that beauties like this don't disappear all together.
What was also remarkable was the round building. It looked just like an African hut.
I appreciated the support!
Just like an African hut with brick not leafs. You are welcome ma'am