Christmas came early for three libraries when they received nine cartons of books each from Oxford University Press.

Oxford understands that libraries, offering valuable services to communities all over South Africa, have limited resources to support these communities with educational and reading books. With this in mind, Oxford identified three libraries, Crossroads, Gugulethu and Langa, and donated a variety of reading books, resource books, school textbooks and Oxford Dictionaries to help bolster their shelves.

Library staff welcomed representatives from Oxford with great excitement and appreciation.

It was clear that library staff and Oxford University Press share a common belief; a belief in the power of education and reading to uplift and equip individuals and communities with the knowledge and skills required to improve their own lives as well as their communities.

(Langa Library) From left to right: Nathania Roux (Oxford’s Campaigns Co-ordinator), Carmen Holtzman (Manager : Library and Information Services - District 1) and Charl September (Senior Librarian)

(Crossroads Library) From left to right: Charlotte Mgcodo (Assistant Librarian), Michael Mali (Oxford’s Sales Consultant) and Gladys Petana (Senior Librarian)

(Guguletu Library) At the back from left to right: Napo Haggai (Assistant Librarian) and Michael Mali (Oxford’s Sales Consultant) At the front from left to right: Nomalinge Siyotula (Acting Senior Librarian), Madoda Sotiya (Acting Senior Librarian) and Velile Sikutshwa (library user – the first customer of the day).