City libraries get better with age
02 December 2022
Four of the City’s libraries recently celebrated various milestones -
Meadowridge, Lotus River, Rylands and Fisantekraal are celebrating 136 years
between them.
Meadowridge Library is the elder in the group, having turned 62, while Lotus River celebrates 38 years in existence.
Rylands (22) and Fisantekraal (14), are much younger, but they all have one thing in common – being part of a network of libraries across the metropole that offer users access to information and resources for work or leisure, and with a technological edge to boot.
'These celebrations come just a month after our Ocean View Library celebrated its 50th birthday. Some of our libraries have been around for a very long time, but the age differential also tells the story of the work that has gone into expanding the service and serving new communities. Every year of their existence is a testament to the strong standing of these libraries within the communities they serve,' said the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross.
Meadowridge Library
The library was originally opened in a large room above a local shopping centre in 1960 and moved to their new building in November a decade later. The membership in 1960 was 400, and currently there are 3 486 patrons.
From 1 July 2021 to 31 October 2022, 49 975 items have been circulated.
There are weekly story times with pre-school groups and the pram jam was relaunched during the July school holiday.
Programmes are run with local schools such as the finance workshop in October with Grade 10 learners from Bergvliet High School.
The library supports local charities and hosts a St Luke's bin where they collect items that people no longer need for the organisation's charity shops.
Lotus River Library
The library was built in 1984 and it officially opened its doors to the public on 19 November 1984.
The only two staff members at the time were Christine Breedenkamp and assistant Shirley Stout. Today, the library's staff complement has grown to five.
The library serves the community of Lotus River and Schaapkraal, including the informal settlements Phulani Village, Riemvasmaak, Jim se Bos and Egoli.
Rylands Library
22 years before the Rylands library was built, the community intermittently campaigned to have a library in the community.
The library was opened on 18 November 2000 by the late Minister of Justice, Dullah Omar, who was also a resident of Rylands.
Rylands library is very popular amongst the schools in the area for its educational programmes such as the annual Battle of the Books and matric challenge.
Storytelling is done on a monthly basis at 10 ECD/creches in the greater Rylands area and the library's chess club is more than 15 years old.
The Gatesville Seniors club meets at the library every Wednesday and the seniors participate in arts and crafts, wellness and book club sessions.
Fisantekraal Library
A collaboration between the City of Cape Town and the Mark Shuttleworth Foundation resulted in the construction of the library.
The facility was officially opened on 26 November 2008 by the then City of Cape Town Mayor, Helen Zille.
Since the establishment of the Fisantekraal Public Library, it has become a centre for the community.
The library provides community programmes, including an informal settlements programme where librarians go out to residents who are unable to travel to the facility, a reading competition for Grade 5 leaners to help instill reading culture and membership drives.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
