Durbanville Library has joined the esteemed group of City of Cape Town libraries that have been in operation for more than a century.
Being a part of such an elite group of centenarian libraries as Bellville, Rondebosch, Observatory and Simon’s Town libraries highlights the City of Cape Town’s rich literary and cultural heritage.
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Throughout the years, these libraries have played an important role in fostering a love of reading, knowledge sharing and community engagement.
‘What makes the milestone even more special is that Durbanville is an incredibly popular library, with the highest membership of the City’s 101 libraries and one satellite library,’ said the City’s mayoral committee member for community services and health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross.
She continued, ‘Throughout its history, the library has expanded to serve a growing population and become a beacon within the community. and it is just getting better with age. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the staff for their commitment and dedication, as well as to the loyal patrons. Without the people leading the charge, none of this would have been possible. Congratulations on this historic birthday and for truly being the heartbeat of the community.’
The Vrede Street library service was established in 1904 and was initially funded through a membership subscription scheme before being subsidised by the provincial government and municipality.
When the library moved from Vrede Street to two rooms in the old Durbanville City Hall in 1923, the collection was housed in a storeroom at the Anglican Church.
The library was relocated to the Durbanville Civic Centre in 1960, and despite concerns that the new location would be inaccessible to all residents, the library thrived.
Finally, in 1973, the library relocated to Koeberg Road, where it remains today.
The library was expanded and upgraded in 1987 due to increased membership, and it reopened in 1989.
Denise Robinson, then-ward councillor, secured a donation from the Shuttleworth Foundation as part of the Durbanville 200 Festival for the upgrade of the Durbanville Library as well as the construction of a new library in Fisantekraal.
In 2008, the foundation generously funded another upgrade, which included the construction of the hall and the expansion of the children’s section.
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With approximately 80 000 items in circulation, Durbanville Library currently has the second-highest circulation in the City of Cape Town.
The library has 8 169 active members and experienced the greatest membership growth from January to April, with 1 492 new members joining the library.
A book borrowing service for all ages, e-resources, Smart Cape, free Wi-Fi, a reference and study area, children and youth services, outreach programmes to schools and nursing homes and hosting cultural and community events in the library and the hall are among the services provided.
English and Afrikaans fiction are among the most popular items in the library, and classic fairy tales are a firm favourite among younger patrons.
Durbanville Library, led by principal librarian René Schoombee, has been transforming young lives in the community through its ‘It Takes a Village to Raise Readers’ programme.
But the library is more than just books.
With a variety of activities and clubs catering to all ages and interests, it is an essential hub of social and cultural engagement for many residents.
A weekly games afternoon allows visitors to play board or card games with friends or strangers in a comfortable and welcoming setting.
The junior chess club, which meets every Tuesday, is excellent for introducing children to competitive chess and developing critical thinking skills.
Traditional library activities, such as story hours and book clubs, are also available, as are sketching classes for teenagers who want to improve their drawing skills.
Library staff regularly present outreach programmes at Durbanville area schools, and a vibrant group of Friends of Durbanville Library hosts book sales throughout the year to support the library’s initiatives.
These venerable institutions are pillars of education, entertainment and community development. They offer places for people of all ages to explore literature, access information, take part in events and programmes and connect with other book lovers.
Congratulations to the Durbanville Library on this remarkable achievement, and may it continue to serve the community for many years to come!
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Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook