Goodwood library will be closed until January next year as part of a multi-million rand library upgrade and maintenance project being undertaken by the City of Cape Town.
“In a technological and digital age, the City is often asked why it spends money on upgrading and maintaining these spaces. Libraries have always been at the heart of the communities they serve and are accessible and safe spaces, providing access to a huge repository of information and knowledge.
“The public library is an essential part of creating and maintaining an educated and literate population,” said the City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for safety and security; and social services, JP Smith.
The City’s Library and Information Services (LIS) plans to spend more than R43 million during this financial year on library upgrades, the completion of the Dunoon library, new wi-fi connections, services and the acquisition of reading materials.LIS will spend just under R18.5 million on books, magazines, newspapers and e-resources subscriptions to ensure that the City’s libraries have attractive and appealing reading materials to engage all library patrons.
This is in addition to the new library management system, Symphony, which will improve the service for patrons and staff and which has just been rolled out to libraries. Goodwood library closed on Friday September 21 and will reopen in January 2019 to allow for the replacement of carpets, new staff toilets, shelving, restructuring of the children’s section, and the replacements of blinds. Other City libraries will receive R7.7 million for proactive maintenance:
Kraaifontein Library closed last week for three months to allow for the construction of a toilet for the disabled, painting, flooring and the extension to staff working area
PD Paulse Library in Kuils River will refurbish the toilet facilities; internal and external painting will take place; floor coverings will be replaced; front entrance shopfronts will be replaced; a new issue desk will be provided; and some new external paving will be installed
Scottsdene Library will close at the beginning of October (to re-open in December) and work will include fencing, the construction of a toilet for the disabled, paving outside the library and general internal refurbishment. The costs for the maintenance and upgrades to these five libraries amount to just over R6 million.
Fish Hoek Library closed in August and maintenance work will include upgrades to the floor, paving, and drywalling to create a new study area and staff kitchen.