The sudden announcement of the imminent closure of Tygervalley Library has been met with shock and outrage by its users.
The library, which has been housed in the shopping centre for over 30 years, announced its closure early last week on its Facebook page.
The post immediately drew response: “As a child, the local library was a refuge,” one user writes.
“A place to meet the world, a place to expand my world and my perspective, a place to study for exams and much more, access to information and services . . . Closing a library denies children (and adults) the opportunities I had.”
Another user calls the decision “devastating. My children love this library and it’s staff. We go there often.”
Many lamented a lack of public participation into the decision or any early warning.
Ilze Swart, who was head librarian when the library was opened, agrees.
“On what basis was such a decision taken? Were the regular users consulted? Not a word in the press, not a word anywhere? I am flabbergasted.”
The library has been a big success, especially over the past few years. It is one of the 10 busiest libraries out of the City of Cape Town’s 102 libraries and the staff received the Best Customer Service award a few years ago.
The decision to close the library was ratified by council on 15 December after a report was submitted in September. Yet, an informed source says staff weren’t made aware of this report or the closure until late in December. “
Staff were told the week before Christmas. What a shameful way to treat loyal staff,” the source says.
“No warning that closure might be imminent to borrowers. It’s almost as though the City wanted to sneak this news through under cover of the festive season.”
The City hasn’t responded by time of going to print, but in the report, which was submitted to council in September, the City paints a grim picture of the current state of libraries. They argue physical library services had to be reviewed because of a revenue decline caused in part by Covid-19.
Less funding has meant librarians have lost their jobs and collections aren’t relevant.
“It is simply no longer feasible to provide meaningful collections at all 102 service points.”
There has been a decrease in services at many libraries across the city, like reduced open hours.
“With the critical need to free up funding towards addressing e.g. repairs and maintenance, collections, etc., the permanent closure of identified service points are proposed.”
Areas that are more affluent can easily access online or virtual services, because data is not an obstacle, the report states.
Tygervalley itself has membership of 4 444 people. It was the 7th highest circulating library in 2019-’20 and 2020-’21.
The report argues there are other libraries close by (Bellville, Durbanville, Brackenfell) which can fill the gap when Tygervalley closes. The rental itself is R499 839 (R41 653 per month) which the City pays.
The current lease expires in June, whereafter the library will be closed. Many questions remain unanswered and have been submitted to the City, one being why staff and borrowers weren’t informed sooner.
