It was an emotional day for the staff of Kewton Primary in Athlone when a long-held dream was fulfilled on Tuesday and a library of their own was opened. They celebrated reaching their goal and paid special tribute to the late Mrs Claudine Williams who played an important role in promoting the dream of a own library.

Only 8% of state schools have their own libraries and Principal Cecil Balie and his staff worked tirelessly  for many years to establish theirs. In 2009 Herschel Girls School, who works in close partnership with Kewton Primary with regard to reading and literacy projects, decided to give the project a boost.  Outreach co-ordinator Gillian van Blerk approached publishers, Herschel parents donated books, the Maintenance department built shelves, girls and staff painted walls and Mrs Sheila Ryan, retired librarian, catalogued the books with help from Lara Sadler, the 2007 Dux at Herschel. 

In celebration of the new facility, learners sang and performed dance items for their fellow pupils, honoured guests from Rotary Waterfront and Rondebosch (who also assisted with the project), guests from the Education Department and other schools and friends of the school. The facility was formally opened by Mr Bruce Probyn, Head of Herschel, who has pledged to fill the one empty wall of the library with more shelves and books.