FIVE AWARDS FOR OVERSTRAND LIBRARIES
Overstrand Libraries celebrated another successful year at the Western Cape Cultural Affairs Awards, held in Cape Town on 9 September 2026, receiving three awards and two runner-up honours.
The cherry on top of the cake was Hermanus Public Library being named Public Library of the Year for the second consecutive year. The library also received the Best Friends of a Public Library Award and was named runner-up in the Digital Literacy Champion Award.
Hawston Public Library took top honours in the Community Impact Through Outreach Award and was also recognised as runner-up in the Reading and Literacy Champion Award. This latest recognition adds to a proud history of awards for the library dating back to 2013, reflecting its continued commitment to making a difference in the Hawston community.
The awards recognise the wide range of work done by Overstrand’s libraries in their communities, from reading and literacy programmes to digital support, outreach and activities for children, young people, seniors and people with disabilities.
The YearBeyond (Yeboneers) programme is also making a difference in the libraries’ reading and outreach work. Yeboneers assist with reading activities at schools, support learners who need extra help and work alongside library staff in community programmes.
Hermanus Library
At Hermanus Library, outreach programmes reach 28 ECD centres and five primary schools, while the library has also supported schools such as Waldorf and Lukhanyo with books, library support and literacy initiatives. Its home-school programme provides children with structured reading, comprehension and public-speaking opportunities, growing from 12 children to between 26 and 30 participants per session. Holiday programmes have also grown, with activities attracting up to 48 children a day and special theatre productions drawing as many as 160 young people.
The library has also expanded its digital and community services, offering digital literacy training, computer assistance and Libby workshops, while its internet facilities have helped thousands of community members, including job seekers. Staff regularly visit six retirement villages and old-age homes, taking books, audiobooks and digital support to seniors, while a partnership with the South African Library for the Blind provides specialised audiobook services to visually impaired residents. The Hermanus library’s programme of book launches and literary events also contributes to the cultural life of Hermanus and is very popular.
The Friends of the Hermanus Library support the library through fundraising, books, activities and initiatives such as the Bhuki Café, helping to purchase new books and expand its services to the community.
Hawston Library
In Hawston, the library’s outreach work covers a wide range of community needs. In partnership with local schools, organisations and stakeholders, it runs programmes around child protection, mental health, anti-bullying, women’s month and disability awareness, while also supporting youth employment initiatives.
Its holiday programmes combine educational activities with a daily cooked meal for participating children, with the June/July school holiday programme being a particular highlight, offering activities for up to 200 children. The library also provides weekly activities for seniors and people with disabilities.
The library further assists residents with practical digital services, including CVs, school registrations, email accounts, SARS applications and other e-government services, in partnership with Thusong. A mini library for visually impaired residents is another example of its efforts to make library services accessible to the wider community.
Reading and literacy have remained at the heart of Hawston Library’s work for many years. Its Help to Read programme has been running for more than 10 years, supporting learners who struggle with reading, while its preschool reading programme introduces young children to stories and learning activities from an early age. The library also works with schools on reading initiatives, speech contests and activities linked to World Book Day, Read Aloud Day and Literacy Day.
Mayor Klaas, an avid reader and lover of a good book, said the awards are a reflection of the work being done across the Overstrand library network.
“While we are celebrating Hermanus Library retaining the Public Library of the Year Award for a second consecutive year, this is a proud moment for all our libraries and staff. Our teams work closely together, sharing ideas and running joint programmes that benefit communities across Overstrand.”
