Zimbabwe's oldest library in new lease of life as EU donates equipment

The international body has pitched-in by establishing an EU Corner, in the Bulawayo Public Library, to capacitate people with convenient and extensive research on matters concerning Europe.

In making sure that this endeavour becomes a reality, the union donated three desktop computers and a printer to the country’s oldest Library, which is 104 years old.

Chief Librarian at the historic institution, which services over 10 000 people, Ms Letshani Ndlovu, paid the Trust a visit to reveal the good news.

“Sometime last year, ZDDT published an appeal for us and straight after that, we received communication form the European Union. They told us they had learnt of our plight through reading that article and they showed interest in assisting us in some way. Eventually they donated three desktop computers and a printer and helped us start what is called the “EU Corner”, which is for people to research on European affairs,” she said.

The library also caters for the blind, whose subscriptions have since skyrocketed to 272. The open learning and studying centres is therefore appealing for further assistance in order for it to effectively serve this marginalised community.

“We have a Braille section and the people come three times a week. They get audio books and Braille books for free, hence; we need help to acquire more Braille material,” said Letshani.

The Library was identified as part ZDDT’s Councillor driven Community Mapping exercise, which assesses needs and resources that can be tapped into for the benefit of society.