Sandton Library receives first ever upgrade

THE Sandton Library is being refurbished for the first time in the 19 years it has been open, in a R1 million council-funded project.

The refurbishment includes new paint, tiles, carpets, and ceiling and roof work.
Library manager Margaret Houliston, who has worked there since it first opened, said there would always be a place for libraries in a community, hence the need for the much-anticipated upgrade.

“My job as library manager is not to provide books – though we do have some 90 000 of them – but to help the book and the reader to meet,” she explained.
She said in her time as manager she had become aware of people’s great need for a good book. “Working here, I have answered every conceivable question from clients, from ‘Where can I find answers to my crossword puzzle?’, to ‘I am now retired, what do I do with myself?’
She said many faces in the library were familiar to her because some readers arrived every day to explore the labyrinth of books.

One such familiar face is Keith Elliot. Elliot’s love for books compelled him to join the library and he has now been chairperson of the Friends of the Sandton Library for the past nine years. “Our raison d’etre is to to support the library by raising funds, that can be spent on needed items. This complements funds received from council,” he said.

Elliot believes it takes a community to make a library. “Without members, a library is just an empty shell and the years of acquired knowledge on the shelves is wasted. Sandton folk have supported our library by donating books in their thousands, and we have realised over R400 000 from these in our monthly book sales for the library’s benefit.”

He said during their last financial year, 2012/2013 the library had spent R56 000 on new books from money raised and a further R165 000 worth of donated books had gone straight to the library’s shelves.

Ward 103 councillor Vincent Earp said the upgrade had originally been decided at R2 million, but council had cut their budget, reducing the expenditure to R1 million.
“We are currently pushing for an upgrade of the CCTV cameras monitoring the library,” he said. Donations of books can be handed directly to the Sandton Library. Library staff can also pick up books.

Details: Keith Elliot on kje@telkomsa.net, or 011-802-6054