Cape Town: New library leaders have graduated on World Librarians Day. Over twenty librarian from City of Cape Town passed from the Strengthening Innovative Library Leaders (SILL) training programme on Thursday, July 10, 2025. The group was the fourth to complete the SILL programme under the theme of this year i.e. ‘Learning to play the game’.
SILL is a foundational leadership training curriculum, designed specially to build leadership and innovation skills for librarians and was developed at the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs in partnership with librarians around the world.
Reportedly, the training is divided into interactive modules that focus mainly on leadership, innovation, planning, and communication. The participants spent five weeks sharpening their leadership and innovation skills on matters linked to Youth Culture: Gaming Learning, Creative Problem-Solving and Community Building.
These graduates will go on to champion pop-up creative spaces, graphic novel clubs and engaging workshops that equip young residents to thrive in a knowledge-driven economy. Due to their energy, libraries have become launch pads where youth of Cape Town explore ideas, connect with mentors and dream big.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Francine Higham congratulated the graduates for their hard work and dedication. She said, “The graduation is made all the significant by its timing on World Librarians Day, when we acknowledge the contribution and vital role of librarians in building the city and nation.”
“They do more than just catalogue thousands of items and also advise, troubleshoot and help patrons learn new skills and reach their goals,” added Higham.
According to Francine Higham, the city librarians at the 102 service points are making an impact on their communities by providing access to information, supporting education and fostering a love of reading.
Notably, the selected theme by South Africa for World Librarians Day was ‘Twelve Languages, One Nation, One Wikipedia’. Over the past three years, the City of Cpe Town has appointed 32 librarians aged between 24 and 35, which brings the total number of librarians in this age group to 68.
Considering this, the younger generation of librarians are being guided by the wisdom of their more experienced colleagues and can draw on their established knowledge while contributing their own young energy, technological savvy, innovation and eagerness to learn. As the city librarians hold a collective 4,057 years of service experience.
The officials urge to celebrate the impact of librarians by visiting the local library on World Librarians Day and share a selfie or send a shout-out on the City of Cape Town’s Facebook Page or your Library’s Facebook Page. Let’s show gratitude to librarians who prove each day that the future of libraries is a bright shining light.