Ja, my kollega twee sprekers tevore, het ook verwys na gemeenskapsbiblioteke. Hierdie prioriteit oor die mediumtermyn moet verwelkom word, veral as biblioteke diep in die platteland daarby gaan baat.
Ek wil vanaand die platteland beklemtoon, want dit is ook 'n voorheen benadeelde groep. Inwoners uit verafgele plattelandse gebiede baat geensins by wat in biblioteke in groter sentra beskikbaar is nie.
Dienslewering aan kiesers in die platteland is net so nodig as vir di in stede en groter dorpe. In gebiede waar daar geen inligtingstegnologie beskikbaar is nie, is die biblioteek dikwels die enigste inligtingsbron en plek waar leesstof beskikbaar is. Skole in di gebiede steun baie swaar op gemeenskapsbiblioteke vir inligting vir projekte wat die leerders moet doen, want skoolbiblioteke bestaan nie meer nie.
Ons steun die voorstel van die Nasionale Ontwikkelingsplan dat die kwaliteit van onderwys vir die meeste leerders drasties verhoog moet word, en gemeenskapsbiblioteke kan in hierdie verband 'n uiters belangrike rol speel.
Daarom is dit bemoedigend dat Program 6: Nasionale Argiewe en Biblioteekdienste, die grootste geallokeerde bedrag, naamlik R799,5 miljoen, van al die programme vir die 2012-13 boekjaar ontvang. Hierdie bedrag behoort egter nog groter te wees as 'n mens die belangrikheid van gemeenskapsbiblioteke na waarde skat.
Ter afsluiting, aangesien gemeenskapsbiblioteke eers die voorwaardelike toelae kan bekom nadat 'n besigheidsplan ingedien en aanvaar is, sal die departement moet verseker dat diegene wat vir die opstel van die plan verantwoordelik is, voldoende opleiding ontvang. Daar moet ook verseker word ... [Tyd verstreke.] [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Dr H C VAN SCHALKWYK: Yes, my colleague who was the speaker before last also made mention of community libraries. This priority should be welcomed over the medium term, especially if libraries in the deep rural areas are going to benefit.
I want to emphasise the rural areas this evening because these also constitute a previously disadvantaged group. Inhabitants in faraway rural areas do not in any way benefit from what is available in libraries in larger centres.
Service delivery to voters in the rural areas is just as necessary as to those in cities and larger towns. In areas where no information technology is available the library is often the only source of information and place where reading matter is available. Schools in these areas rely very heavily on community libraries for information for projects that the learners have to complete, because school libraries no longer exist.
We support the proposal of the National Development Plan that the quality of education has to be drastically increased for the majority of learners, and community libraries can play a very important role in this regard.
It is therefore encouraging that Programme 6: National Archives and Library Services, receives the biggest allocated amount, namely R799,5 million, of all the programmes for the 2012-13 financial year. This amount, however, should be even larger if one estimates the importance of community libraries in its true value.
In conclusion, since community libraries can only get the provisional grants after a business plan has been submitted and accepted, the department needs to ensure that those people who are responsible for drawing up the plan receive sufficient training. It should also be ensured ... [Time expired.] [Applause.]]