So, what are the old library hours?

MBONGENI writes:

The operating hours displayed at Kempton Park Library are not adhered to. They in fact close at 4.20pm from Monday to Thursday and not 5.50pm as displayed.

On Tuesday, October 13, I walked into the library at 3.45pm to study, thinking I had a two cool hours to study. As I was settling in and getting into the mood, I was told they were closing in 10 minutes. When I checked my watch, it was 4.10pm.

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I enquired with the staff why they were closing before the stipulated and displayed times. I was told they had been closing at 4.20pm for the past three months. I then asked why they were misleading the public by displaying incorrect operational times. They could not give me an answer.

I was told to speak to Marcus, the librarian/manager as he was the suitable person to address my question. I saw him and asked him why. He said he was aware of it and tried three times to get the correct times displayed but failed because of some sort of conflict between the union and council.

Can someone please tell us what exactly is happening? This is a great inconvenience to us, the public. If the library closes at 4.20pm, then display the correct times. Imagine how many people have been misled and confused by the signage displayed both inside and outside the library.

Let’s be fair, it’s exam time and students want to study at the library.

Themba Gadebe, metro spokesman, replies:

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has noted with concern the allegations relating to the operating hours of Kempton Park Library.

It must be indicated that the municipality is in the process of considering new operational hours for libraries, however, until such time that the executive council of the municipality has approved the new proposed hours, the old existing hours remain unchanged.