SME initiative rewarded

"Established five years ago by the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Provincial Government, the Library Business Corners (LBCs), help to disseminate relevant business information through the public libraries by acquiring relevant business videos, pamphlets, newspapers, books and case studies, and by arranging network sessions for entrepreneurs," says Gail Jacobs, LBC project manager.

"More particularly these 'business corners' sought to give people easy access to tenders, exhibit products/services, business skills training and advice and provide career guidance," says Jacobs.

"LBCs contribute to non-formal learning opportunities to support the development of a learning culture, which is intended to support economic development. The majority of people are not conscious of their learning, which occurs informally and non-formally," says Prof Shirley Walters of the Division for Lifelong learning at the University of the Western Cape.

There are now 43 LBCs in and around Cape Town and another 31 in other Western Cape municipalities. Participating libraries cover areas such as Athlone, Atlantis, Bellville, Brackenfell, Browns Farm, Crossroads, Delft, Eerste River, Elsies River, Goodwood, Grassy Park, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Kraaifontein, Macassar, Mamre, Milnerton, Mitchells Plain, Retreat, the Strand and Wynberg.

In the last two years the LBC has had contact with 2 500 small, medium and micro-enterprises and its regular information sessions and workshops have reached 5 000 people. This concept has proved so successful in the Western Cape, that it is now being implemented in other provinces such as Gauteng, Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape and the Free State.

"Easy access to business information can directly benefit start-up entrepreneurs and 'survival enterprises'. Not only does this help to create jobs, it also alleviates poverty," says Alderman Clifford Sitonga, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Development and Tourism.

Librarians manage the 'business corners' with support from the LBC head office in Cape Town. This office, in turn, works in close partnership with the project's sponsors, library services, universities, technikons and business communities.

Consequently, the partnership behind the project is sound in expertise support and finance, with 93% of the funding coming from the City of Cape Town, provincial government, and further contributions from Old Mutual, SABMiller, Standard Bank and ABSA.