In a win for students and lifelong learners across Nelson Mandela Bay, the metro has officially partnered with the University of South Africa (UNISA) to turn local libraries into academic access hubs.
Launched this week at the New Brighton Library, the collaboration aims to expand learning opportunities for both enrolled students and the broader public, particularly in underserved communities.
What does this mean in real terms?
Free Wi-Fi. Study spaces. Computers. Access to academic journals, e-books, and more. And importantly, NMB’s public libraries will now double up as delivery and collection points for UNISA library materials, making it easier for distance learners to stay connected and supported.
According to Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe, the partnership is a key step in transforming libraries into engines of opportunity:
“We are not only opening library doors, but we are opening pathways to opportunity, to education, and to a better future for all.”
Professor Mpho Ngoepe, Executive Director for Library Services at UNISA, added that this initiative is about making knowledge more accessible to everyone, even those not registered with the university.
“We are moving towards a time when UNISA library services will be accessible to everyone… This is the end of the era where universities were seen as inaccessible ivory towers.”
The partnership goes beyond just shared resources. It includes joint events, ICT training, content sharing between institutions, and long-term collaboration on marketing, sponsorships, and technology upgrades.
Mayoral Committee Member for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Sinesipho Kwatsha, perhaps summed it up best:
“This partnership is about more than logistics, it’s a social contract… Through this collaboration, learners from disadvantaged communities will now be supported through our network of municipal libraries across the metro.”
A big step for educational equity in Nelson Mandela Bay and a reminder that when access improves, futures do too.
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