Friends of the Linton Grange Library, a community outreach group, have expressed deep concern over the deteriorating condition of the library, referencing safety hazards and operational challenges that are affecting both visitors and staff.
One of the members, Zelda Viljoen, said that the external environment surrounding the library has become a source of distress on many. Issues such as vagrants relieving themselves in the vicinity have allegedly led to a permanent stench of faeces and urine, making it unbearable for library users, especially the elderly.
“Broken liquor bottles litter the area, particularly around the entrance, posing a safety risk to pedestrians and discouraging families from visiting. Furthermore, the lack of proper parking facilities exacerbates the situation. Disabled parking spaces have been occupied by taxis and customers from neighbouring businesses, while a makeshift taxi rank encroaches upon parking spaces designated for staff and library users. Vendors crowding the side-walk near the entrance further restrict access to the library.”
These deteriorating conditions have not only raised immediate safety concerns, but have also hindered the library’s ability to serve its community effectively.
Regular school visits have been impacted due to safety hazards, and the absence of functioning public toilets has disrupted various activities and programmes held within the library premises. Craft markets, book club meetings, and community projects have all been affected by the lack of adequate facilities.
Despite these issues persisting for over five years, reports to relevant authorities have yielded little to no action, Viljoen claimed. She added that budgetary constraints have also hampered efforts to address these issues, leading to a decline in library usage and public confidence.
In trying to find solutions for these challenges, the Friends of the Library organisation have been actively running fundraisers to support the library’s needs. However, their efforts alone cannot fully mitigate the deteriorating situation.
As the community still grapples with the aftermath of the COVID-19 closures, there is a growing realisation of the importance of preserving this vital institution.
“With the future of libraries at stake, residents are calling for urgent intervention from local authorities, and greater community involvement, to ensure the survival of the beloved library. Amidst the digital age, the library remains a beacon of learning and connection for many, particularly the older generation who value its presence. It is imperative that steps are taken to address the current challenges and secure the future of this cherished community asset,” the concerned resident concluded.
“It is indeed sad that our libraries in the metro face these issues year in and year out, and you don’t really see positive movement on upgrading of infrastructure, maintenance, etc., although so many promises have been made in the past by the department,” said Ward 9 Councillor Heinrich Muller. “This is a general situation, and one of the main reasons is due to the necessary budgets that are not allocated to this department to address their shortcomings/issues.
“Libraries are part of the municipality’s leg to provide a service to the community, but one gets the feeling that libraries are not treated as important, and are always last to receive attention. Just take for instance their operating hours, Monday – Thursday, 09:00 to 17:00, and on a Friday, 09:00 to 14:00. They are closed on public holidays. School children and people who work – when are they supposed to go, if they only have time over a weekend?” he said.
He added that in the case of the Linton Grange Library, he is aware that the staff work under very difficult circumstances, in that they are experiencing toilets not working, and repairs to be done inside, including paint and lights to be fixed.
“I have brought these concerns to the relevant department numerous times, but as said, budget constraints are always the issue, which urgently needs to be addressed and trust that the necessary budget allocation will be done with the budget for 2024/2025 financial year.
“Young and old visit our libraries, and it is their privilege and right to go to a library that is in a safe, clean, and workable condition (for the residents and library staff). We will continue to put pressure on the department to see that attention is given to these matters, and they are addressed in everyone’s interest, young and old, employee and resident,” the councillor concluded.
