Pretoria - The newly revamped Lord Khanyile library has been handed over to the community of Ivory Park.
The library, refurbished at a cost of R1.5 million, was established in 1996. It has now been fully electrified and has a 3M security system installed.
The renovations include improvements to the ablution facilities, painting of the perimeter fence, tiling of the floors and provision of parking facilities, said the City of Johannesburg.
The library, which is mainly used by pupils and students, is expected to see an increase in the numbers of those who visit it.
Prior to the renovation, the library had attracted 36 000 visits and 1 989 books were used.
The refurbishment of this library is the latest in a string of libraries that have been revamped over the past two years. They include Emndeni, Lenasia, Diepsloot, Orange Farm, Diepkloof Zone 1, Jabavu, Yeoville and Sandton libraries.
Mayoral Committee Member for Community (MMC) Development, Chris Vondo, said the refurbishment of the library will now afford the communities of Rabie Ridge and Ivory Park a choice as to which facility to use for reading and studying.
The library borders Rabie Ridge and Ivory Park and gives residents of the two townships a choice.
“This is the third library in the area to be renovated. It is up to residents to choose which one to use. The opening of the Lord Khanyile Library will no doubt alleviate pressure on the other two. We are glad that residents, especially children, will no longer be confined to one or two libraries,” said Vondo.
The MMC appealed to parents to encourage their children to visit libraries.
He said parents were in a better position to help promote the culture of reading, adding that once children got used to it, they would not turn back.
“Our libraries have interesting statistics because they are user-friendly. Last year alone, we recorded a total of 2.6 million visits during which 1.5 million books were used. We appeal to parents to bring their three-year-olds to libraries because that is the right age for children to appreciate the importance of reading,” said Vondo.
There are currently 87 public libraries under the watch of the City of Johannesburg. – SAnews.gov.za
