Modder library friends fight on

ONCE a thriving and active group, the Friends of Modderfontein Library has had to put many of its fundraising activities on hold.

A casual passer-by to Modderfontein Library today will see a seedy looking old building in unkempt grounds surrounded by barbed wire, in the middle of a building site and with a container style post office with its container style post boxes occupying the car park.

Not exactly a magnetic draw card.

The development of the new shopping centre meant big changes. Book sales were suspended for the immediate future as there was too much dust and disruption.

So what does the future hold with the current developments in and around Modderfontein?

The Friends have been told by the developers that the library was due to be demolished to make room for a restaurant. A new location has been promised in the coming new shopping centre.

“For the past five years, the Friends of Modderfontein Library have been working tirelessly to promote the library and we won’t stop now. We look forward to a new and vibrant library; hopefully a Phoenix rising from the ashes – and invite you all to visit the new premises when they become available,” they all say.

The purpose of the Friends is to support the needs of the library and stimulate interest among the community.

The brain-child of Sue Grant from Lakeside and Dale Cherrington from Thornhill, the Modderfontein Friends has celebrated its fifth birthday this year. Their initial projects were story time, donated book sales and the opening of the library on Saturday mornings.

Initially Sue was in the chair, Dale secretary and Hugh Ireland treasurer. A Facebook page was formed under The Friends of Modderfontein Library.

The first story time was held in February 2012 on a Friday afternoon and proved popular. Volunteer readers took turns to read to young children who were found to be mostly enthusiastic.

Book sales were held on the first Saturday of the month and were busy. Some people thought they were taking library books from the shelves and selling them! Nothing could be further from the truth.

Books were donated by the Friends who encouraged the public to do likewise. Monies received were used to buy new books, to help freshen up the library shelves. The library hierarchy had very little money available and so the reading matter had started to get somewhat stale.

In May 2012 Dale took the chair and Eileen Powell became secretary.

The first coffee morning was held on a Friday morning in February 2013 and regular talks have been held ever since. Guest speakers were invited to come to the library and address the group, and any other interested attendees, on a variety of subjects.

Authors were particularly welcome and brought their own books for sale. These were personally autographed and well received.

Perseverance eventually paid off and at last the library opened its doors for the first time on a Saturday morning: on June 1, 2013.

Unfortunately on March 1 the next year, the powers that be decided to close the library on a Friday afternoon – and story time had to be moved to a Saturday morning. That didn’t prove popular and sadly it’s proved no longer feasible to continue.

Even more bad news was further curtailing of opening hours from January 1, 2015 – when the library was closed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This necessitated changing the times of monthly meetings and coffee and talk mornings.

They’re a small group of people and would love to welcome new members. If you’re interested, contact modderfriends@gmail.com.