City’s Basket of Services Event at Vangate Mall

City’s Basket of Services Event at Vangate Mall The City’s Basket of Services hosted a one-day event at Vangate Mall on 15 July 2025, bringing together various local government departments to offer essential services directly to the community. The event aimed to make local government more accessible, providing residents the chance to interact with staff, ask questions, and receive guidance on a variety of services. Athlone Library’s Participation: Athlone Library was an active participant, promoting its diverse range of resources and services.

At the library’s table, staff shared information about becoming a member and highlighted the many benefits of membership, including access to e-resources such as: • PressReader (for newspapers and magazines) • Libby (for borrowing eBooks and audiobooks) • Smartcape (for online educational programs and learning resources) Although no computers or Wi-Fi were available at the event itself, library staff encouraged visitors to take advantage of these resources at Athlone Library or their nearest branch.

Additionally, the table featured promotions for the library’s Holiday Programmes and storytelling sessions to engage children and families. Valhalla Park Library Joins Us: We were thrilled to have Valhalla Park Library join us at our table, assisting in promoting library services and connecting with the community.

Their involvement helped expand the reach of our efforts and encouraged more people to explore the benefits of library membership. Interactive Fun: An exciting addition to our table was a TV and PlayStation setup, offering a fun and interactive experience for visitors, especially younger attendees. It was a hit, with many excited to play games while learning more about the library’s services.

Meet Libee the Mascot: The beloved Libee mascot also made an appearance, posing for photos with visitors and spreading joy throughout the event. Libee quickly became a crowd favourite, especially among children, adding a lively and memorable touch to the day. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis Hands Out Title Deeds to First-Time Homeowners: A significant highlight of the event was when Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis personally handed out title deeds to Athlone and Heideveld tenants, marking a milestone for these residents as they became first-time homeowners.

The mayor’s gesture symbolised the city’s commitment to supporting homeownership and providing long-term stability to local communities. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and a special thanks to Valhalla Park Library for assisting in promoting our library services.

Mogamat Armien Fredericks
Librarian
Athlone Library