Cape Town’s SmartCape facility offers free internet access to registered users and is the ideal tool for matriculants and job seekers.
Very often matriculants wait for their final results before deciding on a career path. In some cases, it becomes quite late to try and find a tertiary institution that can accommodate them. Added to this is the dilemma of which field of study to pursue.
‘We would like to remind matriculants and potential job seekers that help is at hand. The City’s SmartCape facility can be accessed at more than 100 libraries across Cape Town. New users can register at the library to make use of the facility immediately. Each user is allowed one free session per day for a maximum of 45 minutes and can use this time to do some research on what is available to them.
Should extra time be needed, this can be arranged with the administrator and would depend on the demand for the SmartCape facility at the time. The time limit helps to manage the high demand for the facility during peak usage times,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Councillor Xanthea Limberg.
In addition to the SmartCape service, the daily newspapers are also available at the City’s libraries.
Currently there are more than 360 000 registered SmartCape users across the city, with just over 90% who are active and make use of the facility regularly. The SmartCape initiative has proved useful for learners doing research for projects, job-seekers looking for employment opportunities, entrepreneurs starting up and marketing a business, and parents accessing health and wellness information.
‘We are urging learners especially to make use of this free service at their disposal. As a caring city, we would like to make progress possible for those who need help to access the educational and job opportunities available,’ added Councillor Limberg.
In some areas the SmartCape facility is available at community centres, reflecting the programmes adaptability to fit the particular community needs, using existing infrastructure. Its effectiveness led to the project being recognised for its innovative effort to connect residents with free public access to computers, when the City was presented with the Access to Learning Award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Find your closest library on Cape Town Green Map’s Library Map
