Labour dispute keeps Joburg’s libraries closed on Saturdays

Public libraries in Johannesburg have not reopened on Saturdays since the lockdown and they will remain closed on that day until a labour dispute is resolved.

So said City of Johannesburg spokesperson Virgil James after the Friends of Olivedale Library (Fools) raised the issue through Randburg Sun.

“Due to an unresolved labour dispute between the library employees and the City of Johannesburg regarding payment of overtime for Saturday work, City libraries are closed on Saturdays until the dispute is resolved,” James said.

“It is an inconvenience for users at this stage, we know but this is a drawn-out matter and residents will be informed once libraries reopen on Saturdays.”

Much of the success of Olivedale Library is thanks to Fools – a group of community members who raise funds for new books, maintain the library as much as volunteers can do at a municipal facility and host events there.

It was their complaints to the Randburg Sun and Ward 101 councillor Ralf Bittkau which were escalated to City spokespeople and saw the library reopened earlier this year after it was closed for three months erroneously by the City’s billing department.

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The group has called for the reopening of public libraries on Saturdays after the City of Johannesburg Library Services decided during the lockdown to only open its libraries on weekdays.

“Youngsters have school and extra-murals, and most adults work during the week, so it is so important to reopen on Saturdays again,” said the group’s chairperson Bette Kun.

“It is much more convenient to come through on a Saturday to look at books than to find time during working hours in the week to squeeze in a visit.”

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The group’s secretary Eleanor Woodman and former chairperson Jackie Young agreed

Young said libraries were a parallel education system and a means of promoting literacy.

“Many schools do not have libraries anymore, therefore public libraries are the only way for people to have books to read, for free,” she said.

“Trying [to get] free books on tablets is not the kind of reading young people need generally speaking, and of course, the Kindle type of reading doesn’t have the benefit of professional librarians for their expertise, information, encouragement and advice.”

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