{"id":54837,"date":"2022-01-25T06:00:44","date_gmt":"2022-01-25T04:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/public-library-enters-its-final-chapter-20220124\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T18:45:11","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T16:45:11","slug":"public-library-enters-its-final-chapter-20220124","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/public-library-enters-its-final-chapter-20220124\/","title":{"rendered":"Public library enters its final chapter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Plumstead Public Library, located in the area\u2019s Village Square, will close its doors early next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a \u201creport to the Executive Mayor together with the mayoral committee and council on the library and information services: reconfiguration of services\u201d, dated (Tuesday) 21 September 2021, the Department of Community Services and Health, \u201cin the face of budget constraints\u201d, asked that the closure of Plumstead Public Library, among others, be considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Patricia van der Ross, Mayco Member for Community Services and Health, the decision not to renew Plumstead library\u2019s lease, taken on Wednesday 15 December last year with a full sitting of c ouncil, means the library will be closed, \u201cin line with council\u2019s decision to delimit external leases.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe predicted closure of the library will either be at the end of February or March 2023,\u201d confirms Van der Ross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the information provided in the report, released last year, the primary budget linked to this library is R3,2 million with R2,2 million allocated to employee costs. The 2021-\u201922 rental for this facility is R273 785 (City-funded), the current lease expiring on 30 June 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it is still unclear what will happen to the library\u2019s staff and resources, the report recommends that, should the lease be ended, the resources (staff, collections, information communication technology, furniture and equipment) within this facility, and others like it, be reallocated to other libraries \u201cto maintain service levels for as long as possible\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It recommends staff posts from these \u201cexternal leases\u201d libraries be ring-fenced and that the positions be abolished via natural attrition and that \u201cthe operating budgets be reallocated to address identified shortfalls, for example, repairs and maintenance and security requirements\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report goes on to explain that the closure of the facility were considered within the context of the level to which the building is fit for purpose, the type of usage and usage levels and the proximity to other service points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In support of this, the report describes Plumstead Library as \u201cmostly providing services to the elderly and people working in the area, with minimal programmes on offer\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It states the library has a membership of 1 269. From a usage perspective, \u201cthis library was the 33rd highest circulating library in 2019\/20 and dropped to 56th place in 2020\/21\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was ranked 81st in terms of foot count during 2019\/20 and 71st in 2020\/21,\u201d the report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other public libraries located within the immediate vicinity include Southfield (2,2 kms) and Wynberg (2,4 kms).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy closing this facility other library services points are still accessible well within the set standards,\u201d the report reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether the patrons of the library, which (as the reports points out) are mostly elderly, will agree is up for debate. People\u2019s Post<\/span> visited the library on Thursday 20 January to ask this very question of patrons. However, arriving a few minutes to 13:00, this reporter found the library empty and the doors busy closing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From October 18 2021, Plumstead Public Library\u2019s hours had been revised to be open from 09:00 to 13:00 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 11:00 to 15:00 on Wednesdays, and Fridays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The library is open from 09:00 to 12:00 on every alternate Saturday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the report, \u201cit is imperative that decisions with respect to the non-renewal of external leases be timeously taken to allow adequate time for engagement with the community\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People\u2019s Post<\/span> asked what the City\u2019s plans for community engagement were and, should community engagement go ahead, if it would only be informative, or if residents would have the opportunity to object to the closure of the Plumstead Public Library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is still being determined,\u201d Van der Ross responded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n