As a young boy, Chatty Library was a safe haven for him, a place where he could lose himself in an endless supply of books for several hours on end.
Today, he believes that this library laid the foundation for him to become an author and poet.
Selwyn Milborrow, who is also a freelance journalist, was born and bred in Bloemendal in Nelson Mandela Bay and spent most of his primary and high school years at the now severely vandalised Chatty Library and said that seeing the condition of the library has left him shaken to the core.
“I frequented Chatty Library on a daily basis. I had a love of reading and writing after my parents bought me a bookcase for my birthday. They told me that one day, my own books would be displayed on this bookcase,” Milborrow explained.
“It helped me develop my appetite for reading and writing and I shudder to think what would have become of my writing career if the library had been destroyed back then.”
Chatty Library is still in a state of utter disrepair after it was recently vandalised for the umpteenth time, much to the dismay and disappointment of Ward Councillor, Noeleen Moodley.
According to Moodley, there is currently “nothing” going on at the library since the damage is extensive.
“It was vandalised again. Thus far, my staff and I have helped the library staff to clean up the place. We picked up books that could be saved but the furniture has either been destroyed or stolen. The library is completely destroyed,” she said.
“Our community is being hugely affected because the closest library is in West End and it is far and dangerous to walk there. Children don’t always have taxi or bus fare to go and do projects at other libraries,” Moodley explained.
Milborrow added that he was 14 years old when he started to use the library for school assignments and relaxation as well. “This library was more than just a place of research. It became my daily place of safety. I became a household face at the library and the librarian asked me to help pack the books away in the afternoons.
“After matric, I was permanently appointed as a library assistant. Chatty Library had thus changed my life for the better,” he said.
He also said that the vandalism of the library had shocked him, especially since it happened during national library week.
“I can’t believe that a community can be so self-destructive. The library was destroyed on purpose by individuals whose own children are serviced by the library.
“We had just recently celebrated Human Rights Day. Children have a right to education and a library is a pillar on which it leans.
“That pillar has been ripped out of the community. If a library could mean so much for my career as an author, how much more could it mean for today’s generation?
“Who knows, maybe those vandals’ own children are suffering because of this senseless deed.
“How are those children going to do school projects?”
Milborrow continued that not only children, but also adults are affected by the vandalised library since reading is therapeutic, relaxing and constructive.
He believes that an integral part of being young and adventurous has been ripped away by vandals.
“The breaking down of the library is a representation of the soul of a community: a brittle soul but I am linking that to a brittle democracy.
“I grew up during the apartheid-era. I longed for freedom, but not the freedom to destroy.
“Our society is bleeding and something needs to be done. We can start at home and teach our children to respect each other and society.”
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality spokesperson, Mamela Ndamase, said that the four libraries that have been vandalised: Chatty, KwaMagxaki, Allanridge in Kariega and Motherwell, are still damaged and will not open anytime soon.
“The damage is structural. For now we cannot say when the facilities will reopen to the public as the damage was extensive,” she said.
