A party was held on Saturday to celebrate an iconic part of Kuils River: the 60-year-old library building (“Library turns 60”, Northern News, October 18).
“Kuils River library is a cornerstone in this community” said JP Smith, the mayoral committee member for safety and security and social services.
The original Kuils River library was established in Kort Street in 1928 but moved to its current Cape Dutch-style premises in 1957, where, in May of that year, the first training course for librarians in the then Western Province was held.
Neighbouring towns did not have libraries and residents from Bellville, Durbanville, Brackenfell and Kraaifontein came to make use of Kuils River Library.
In 1964 Mariana Bosman was appointed as the first full-time librarian and at that stage membership was 900 and the circulation was
33 000 a year.
The library now boasts a membership of 6 290, with a circulation of more than 188 500 annually.
Since its opening, the Kuils River Library has been extended twice.
The library services five high schools, eight primary schools, 20 creches, three higher education institutions, and neighbouring areas.