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Tag: Athlone Library

  • Stitched with Love: Athlone Library’s Heartwarming Gift to Preemie Babies

    Athlone Library Knitting Club displaying their beautiful handmade caps and booties for premature babies which were crafted with love and community spirit.

    The Athlone Library Knitting Club is proud to share the success of our latest community project: creating handmade caps and booties for premature babies. Our members worked together with care and compassion to support the tiny newborns at Mowbray Maternity Hospital.

    Premature babies often struggle to regulate their body temperature, and soft, warm knitted items provide essential comfort during their early days. With this in mind, our members dedicated their time and expertise over a period of three months to produce a collection of high-quality caps and matching booties in various premature baby sizes. Using baby-safe, soft acrylic or wool blends, the ladies created a range of gentle pastel and cheerful colours, all crafted according to neonatal sizing guidelines to ensure warmth, safety and a comfortable fit.

    Knitted caps and booties officially handed over to Mowbray Maternity Hospital Sister ready to warm and welcome premature little ones.

    In late 2025, the knitting club delivered a beautiful collection of hand-knit caps to Mowbray Maternity Hospital, providing much-needed warmth and comfort to premature infants during their first delicate days The neonatal staff expressed deep gratitude for the donation, noting how vital these supportive items are for families in need. This project perfectly captures the compassion, skill and community spirit of our club members.

    We extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who dedicated their time and talent to this cause, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Mowbray Maternity to support even more tiny heroes and their families.

    Nazley Isaacs & Moeniba Fisher

    Assistant Librarians

    Athlone Library

  • Athlone Library at the Western Cape Cultural Affairs Awards 2025

    Athlone Library is proud to announce that we were awarded 2nd place for “Public Library of the Year” at the Western Cape Cultural Affairs Awards 2025. This prestigious event celebrates excellence in arts, culture, and heritage across the province, recognising individuals and organisations that make a meaningful impact in their communities.

    Athlone Public Library recognized as a finalist for Public Library of the Year in the 2025 Cultural Awards by the Western Cape Government.

    Receiving this award is a significant milestone for Athlone Library. It reflects the hard work, dedication, and commitment of our library team, who continuously strive to deliver quality services and create a welcoming space for all community members.

    This recognition would not have been possible without the collective effort of the AthloneLibrary staff. Their passion for promoting literacy, fostering community engagement, and enhancing access to information continues to set our library apart.

    We extend heartfelt gratitude to our patrons and community. Their ongoing support, participation, and engagement are at the heart of everything we do. This award is not just for the library team — it belongs to the entire Athlone community.

    The awards ceremony was beautifully hosted, with live performances that added a vibrantand festive atmosphere to the evening. Attendees enjoyed an inspiring programme, surrounded by representatives from libraries, cultural institutions, and creative communities across the Western Cape.

    This achievement motivates us to continue striving for excellence and to keep expanding the role of Athlone Library as a hub of knowledge, culture, and community connection.

    Athlone Public Library recognized as a finalist for Public Library of the Year in the 2025 Cultural Awards by the Western Cape Government.

    Celebrating teamwork and achievement at Athlone Library! The staff proudly showcase their latest recognition, reflecting dedication and commitment to serving the community.

    Celebrating teamwork and achievement at Athlone Library! The staff proudly showcase their latest recognition, reflecting dedication and commitment to serving the community.

    Mogamat Armien Fredericks

    Librarian
    Athlone Library

  • Community Unites for the 2nd Homeless Support Programme at Athlone Library

    On 4 September 2025, the community of Athlone united to support individuals experiencing homelessness through the 2nd Homeless Support Program at Athlone Library. Building upon the success of the inaugural initiative, this quarter-long campaign has inspired generous contributions of gently used and new clothing from compassionate residents throughout the region.

    Over the past several months, members of the public have donated a diverse array of clothing, which dedicated staff meticulously sorted and prepared for distribution. Donations also came from the library’s own Knitting Club, run by staff and community members, whose handmade items added a personal touch of care and comfort.

    Staff preparing tables with clothing and refreshments to support the homeless community, demonstrating care and outreach beyond traditional library services.

    On the day of the event, these essential items were distributed directly to individuals experiencing homelessness providing much-needed warmth and dignity to those facing the harsh realities of street life. In addition to clothing, attendees were offered sandwiches and hot beverages, including coffee and tea ensuring nourishment and comfort.

    A regular patron who often visits the library, and who witnessed the program while conversing with a staff member, remarked:

    “Every donation, sandwich and cup of tea represents a small act of kindness that collectively makes a profound impact.”

    Library staff serving refreshments and engaging with the needy.

    What began as a small act of kindness has blossomed into a powerful movement. The gratitude expressed by recipients serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of this initiative. It offers hope, compassion and a sense of belonging to those who often feel overlooked.

    Athlone Library hopes to inspire the community to continue donating, helping to build a stronger and more compassionate society. Together, through collective effort, we can effect meaningful change at our libraries. One coat, one meal and one warm beverage at a time.

    Philiswa Stokwe & Moeniba Fisher,

    Assistant Librarians at Athlone Library

  • 67 Minutes of kindness: Mandela Day at Athlone Library

    67 Minutes of kindness: Mandela Day at Athlone Library

    Friday, 18 July marked Mandela Day, the Athlone Library marked 67 Minutes of Kindness with a heartwarming initiative by its knitting club. Every Wednesday, the club gathers to knit handmade blankets and this year they donated them to the ladies at Erica Place, a local old age home in the area.

    The Athlone Library knitting club show off their handmade blankets in honour of Mandela Day


    The gesture was a beautiful reminder of Nelson Mandela’s values of selflessness and community. The blankets, made with care and warmth, offered comfort to the elderly residents who often face isolation. It’s not just about knitting but about building bonds and making a difference, one stitch at a time.

    Athlone Library staff, along with a sister, deliver blankets to an old age home for distribution.
    Blankets being distributed to residents at an old age home by staff, bringing warmth and care to the elderly.


    The knitting club’s weekly get-togethers embody Mandela’s belief that “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived, but what difference we have made to the lives of others.”

    By coming together to give back, they showed just how small acts of kindness can have a meaningful impact.Mandela Day at Athlone Library was a true celebration of kindness and community, leaving a legacy of warmth and compassion.


    Nazley Isaacs
    Assistant Librarian

    Athlone Library

  • Athlone library does Opera

    On 01 July 2025, Athlone library hosted an enchanting operatic performance for young children titled “Opera Blocks Forest Friends.” This captivating show brought together children ages 1-4 and their caregivers for a day filled with music, storytelling, and interactive fun. The first performance, held at 11:00 AM, was exclusively for Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in the area. The children were introduced to operatic storytelling through simple, engaging tales performed in a fun and musical format. The children actively participated, joining in the sing-alongs, and enjoying the lively performances.

    The use of music and movement kept the young audience captivated and helped foster a love for the arts from a very young age. The second show, at 1:00 PM, was open to the public. In this performance, mothers and children were required to book tickets via the web, ensuring a well-organised and safe event. The performance for this session included a series of interactive activities, sing-alongs, and operatic storytelling that engaged both children and parents.

    Actors dressed in animal costumes, filled with song and story, creating a joyful atmosphere.

    The entire experience was designed to foster a sense of community and encourage family participation in the arts. The “Opera Blocks Forest Friends” show proved to be a huge success, offering a delightful and memorable experience for all who attended. It provided a unique opportunity for young children to experience the beauty of opera while developing a love for music, storytelling, and creative expression.

    Mogamat Armien Fredericks
    Librarian
    Athlone Library