Johannesburg City Library is officially open
The Johannesburg City Library houses 1.5m books, and is finally open after many years of its covers closed.
The Johannesburg City Library officially opened its doors on August 9, after its first phase opening on March 21.
The library closed during Covid times due to leaking roofs and non-compliance with the outdated mechanical and fire configuration of the building.
The Johannesburg Heritage Foundation spearheaded a protest last year with other organisations calling for the opening of the library. The protest led to the first phase of the library’s opening, which welcomed the public on March 21.
Read more: The countdown for Johannesburg City Library’s phase two opening has begun
Speaking at the opening, Executive Mayor Dada Morero said he was excited that the library had been officially restored.
“Today is a celebratory day, not only for the library but for the women of the country as the day marks Women’s Day.”
The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) CEO, Themba Mathibe, said that the entity was appointed at a time when the library was non-compliant.
Read more: Repairs underway on Johannesburg City Library’s parquet flooring
“Post Covid-19, with many buildings catching fire, the City of Johannesburg’s Emergency Management Services (EMS) Department issued a notice of non-compliance for the outdated mechanical and fire configuration of the building.”
Mathibe added that the building’s roof had also been leaking, which affected the operations of the library, placing almost 1.5m of books under threat.
The JDA was then appointed to assist with town planning for the heritage part of the library.
Mathibe added that of the R57m budget allocated for the project, 86.2% was spent. He added that there were cost control measures in place to ensure that money was spent as it was supposed to.
Johannesburg Heritage Foundation’s honorary life president, Flo Bird, said the library’s opening was proof that protesting for a good cause eventually does lead to fruition.
“The people of Johannesburg can finally have a place to study and read.”
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