Libraries are thriving

RESPONSE by Alderman JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, and Social Services.

The letter in the Cape Times (May 11, 2017) “City must reopen closed libraries” refers.

The City of Cape Town has not been closing libraries. Since 2000, nine new libraries have been opened. Last year, the smart and beautifully stocked Kuyasa Library was opened with access to more than 50 000 items, including books, CDs, DVDs, audio books, etc and also access to online and e-resources, with study facilities and reading and play areas for the children, a dedicated teen zone with pertinent resources for teenagers, a seniors’ room with computers to engage senior citizens in a comfortable space conducive to learning, as well as other spaces within which to engage the community with relevant programmes.

The City is committed to providing quality facilities and access to free information for all its residents.

Libraries form an important part in creating social and economic opportunities for Cape Town’s residents, as these facilities level the playing field by providing communities with resources from the provision of books, audiovisual material and access to the internet via the SmartCape system, as well as access to e-resources 24/7 remotely via the internet.

The Athlone Library opened in 1984 as a regional library providing patrons with a bigger collection, access to more computers and more space within which to study, and an appealing and sizeable children’s library.

Currently the library has a stock of 74 657 items. The library is located centrally in a business hub with close access to public transport.

To keep the library updated, as it serves a large community, Athlone Library had a major upgrade in 2016 at a cost of R507 895.

The Kewtown Library was a community library with smaller facilities and less stock. When it closed its doors in 1998, the new Bridgetown Library was opened.

Education is key to empowering our residents and there is no doubt that libraries play a big part in this.

The City would love to build libraries in every suburb, but this is not practical or economically viable. New libraries are being planned and built to address the express needs of communities, and plans are currently in place to open a library in Du Noon in 2018.

Residents of Cape Town are encouraged to join their local libraries, experience the social interaction, sense of community and the world of knowledge available via the myriad resources available in these spaces. JP Smith Mayco Member for Safety and Security, and Social Services