The City of Cape Town’s Goodwood Public Library in McDonald Street celebrated its 65th birthday this week.
The library was built after the old Goodwood Hall was demolished and opened its doors on 10 March 1961. Registered voters as well as business owners could become members at a cost of £1 per year.
On one side of the building the roof consisted of a domed skylight and beneath it a garden. In the late 1980s the garden was removed and the children’s section was created.
In 1994 the library started issuing books on a computerised system, and in the 1990s Goodwood Library established a branch library in Edgemead.
Francine Higham, Mayco member for Community Services and Health, congratulated the staff on its milestone.
“Congratulations to Goodwood Library on 65 years of serving the community. For decades this library has been a place where residents can learn, explore new ideas and develop a lifelong love of reading. As with all of libraries Goodwood is a magical space where stories, knowledge and community can come together.
“Here is to many more chapters for Goodwood Library.”
