Cape Town - The Strand library is celebrating 120 years of serving the community after first opening its doors in the Town Hall in 1904.
The library began on a subscription basis and was housed in a room of the Strand Town Hall on December 20, 1904.
A new library was then constructed in Wesley Street and opened on September 3, 1924, after membership growth.
City Mayco member for community services and health, Patricia van der Ross, described the library as a beacon of hope.
“Strand library is about more than the books and other material. It’s a collection and reflection of history and an important social meeting point,” Van der Ross said.
In 1972, the municipality opted to join the Cape Provincial Library Service and started construction on a new library on the corner of Mills and Piet Retief streets.
On August 29, 1974, the new library formally opened as a free municipal service. The library’s current membership is at 5 450 and annual circulation is 185 357 items.
Among the 102 libraries in the city, it has the fourth-highest circulation.
International authors Lucinda Riley and Colleen Hoover, as well as South African’s Rudie van Rensburg and Christelle Wessels, are among the most popular local fiction authors.
Ward councillor Carl Punt said the 120-year milestone was a celebration for Strand as a whole.
“A library is the cornerstone of every community, and Strand library did this achievement for the last 120 years. A very proud moment for all of us, and let’s promote the value of books and reading for the decades to come,” he said.
The library hosts weekly class visits, and won the LIS Service Recognition Awards’ first runner-up position for Innovation.
Strand Community Policing Forum spokesperson Niklaas Thysen said the library had always been a cornerstone of the community.
“We will ensure that the safety and security will be in check so that our kids can continue to make use of the services,” he said.
Cape Argus