Libraries in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro could reopen their doors by December this year, as staff recently reported for duty to start preparing the facilities.
Municipal spokesperson, Mamela Ndamase, said that while the lockdown was essential to curb the spread of COVID-19, it contributed to the vandalism and damage caused to some of the libraries, which were closed for more than five months. As a result, only 21 libraries out of 25 that are operated by the metro, will reopen with prescribed restrictions when all compliance regulations have been met.
Chatty Library, Allanridge Library in Uitenhage, KwaMagxaki and Booysen Park Libraries will not be opened until repairs have been done.
“As part of the preparations, staff members were sent to the metro’s wellness centre for assessment and testing before returning to work on Thursday, October 15.
“They have brought back assessment sheets indicating their status of wellness,” Ndamase said.
“Staff members without comorbidities and under the age of 60, have returned to work to start preparing the facilities. This includes stock taking, housekeeping, getting the libraries COVID-19 compliant and ready to receive incoming stock and ultimately, the public,” she added.
The next cohort of staff that are over the age of 60 but without comorbidities will return to work over this course of this week.
Thereafter, those over 60 years old with comorbidities are to return from October 28 until November 4. The last group of staff over 60 years old with comorbidities will return between November 4 and 10. Ndamase mentioned that the public would be allowed to return, collect or request materials from various libraries from November 16.
“The one-month period will allow the libraries to quarantine all the materials received from the public in preparation to recirculate, according to the COVID-19 guidelines,” Ndamase said.
Meanwhile, Chatty Library was recently struck by yet another act of vandalism, the third in less than a year and merely a month after the previous incident.
This time around, it doesn’t seem that anything was taken from the library since most of the valuable items were stolen during the last incident at the beginning of September this year.
However, according to Ward 35 councillor, Helga van Staaden, a lot of destruction has taken place.
What makes matters worse is that staff had already started cleaning up the library and even fixed the burglar bars, replaced the door and reinstalled the gate that was sawn off when all their hard work was destroyed last week.
“The municipality simply doesn’t learn lessons,” she said. “At the first break-in they should have known to place security guards at this important public facility or renew its contract with the armed response team.
“Now everything is in ruins and will cost hundreds of thousands of rands to repair. I hope this incident will be an eye opener, but even so it is a little too late,” Van Staaden added.
Ndamase said that the building is not currently safe for a person to guard as there is no fence around the perimeter.
“The library needs fencing so that if a security guard is dispatched there, the person can be safe. The intension is to have a 24-hour armed response and a security guard on site.
“However, the municipality is urging residents and beneficiaries who use the facility to be the eyes and ears and report such crimes since the metro’s efforts are often in vain. Thieves still continue to cause havoc and are not reported by those who know them,” she said.
However, Van Staaden believes that the municipality is asking too much from residents.
“While the community has a role to play to look after our assets it cannot be expected that they should be human shields,” Van Staaden explained.
Ndamase also mentioned that library management has made a request in order for council to recommend a budget to fix all the libraries that have been severely damaged.
“At this stage, it’s difficult to say what the monetary value is that we have lost already. Assessments still need to be made with contractors to estimate how much would be needed to fix the building.”
In the meantime, residents are encouraged to utilise the electronic library until they can actively interact with libraries again from November 16 onwards.
The links are as follow:
- http://nmbm.lib.overdrive.com
- http://www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za/PRAUTH/login.aspx
- The PressReader link can be used for newspapers and magazines.
