Today the City’s Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato, and the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, were at Wynberg Library – as part of a series of visits to highlight the services available to the public. Apart from housing a vast collection of adult books, the library also has a Children’s Library, a Teen Section and a very large Music Department, study spaces, and access to the free internet service via SmartCape, which are available for the benefit of residents in this community.
‘Don’t expect to find a quiet library when you step through our doors, but a vibrant one filled with activity and knowledge-seeking,’ said Nadia Ismail Head Librarian as she welcomes patrons to the facility.
Wynberg Library was opened in 1958 as a hub of knowledge for the young and not-so-young, with school children and adults, making use of the non-fiction and research collection of close to 40 000 reading items.
‘It is always abuzz with music playing in the background, friendly enthusiastic staff diligently working on social media programmes, and willing to provide an excellent service to the patrons visiting this space. We are definitely not a quiet library, but vibrant and noisy from the staff to the children visiting and our diverse patrons looking for a chat and information. And we have wonderful compliments attesting to this,’ said Ismail.
Executive Mayor Alderman Plato and Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services & Health, Zahid Badroodien expressed gratitude to library staff for their hard work and also assessed services available to patrons.
‘This library is a space for learning, enriching minds eager for knowledge and to engage in the world of storytelling. Libraries offer a peaceful place to absorb information from the materials available to its patrons. Whether it is a book from your favourite author or an academic textbook, the purpose is to open minds and imagination. Between these walls is an almost limitless supply of information and I encourage the community to treasure and protect this community resource as we have seen vandalism of some of our library facilities in recent months,’ said Mayor Plato.
Wynberg Library is centrally-located near to a public transport interchange and is one of three libraries in the city with a big and comprehensive music collection that is well used by the broader public. The music section has over 9 000 CDs and over 2 000 LP records. There are three distinct sections – Adult Department, Children’s Department and Music/Art Department. There are two issue desks – a main desk and one for children.
‘Libraries are often the only source of comprehensive information for our communities. Wynberg Library is a place of information where the facility also gives our residents the opportunity to find jobs, get lost in stories, explore research and immerse themselves in new ideas. The library is a popular and well-used space.’
‘Wynberg Library is taking part in the Rainy Day Bingo Winter Reading Programme, which kicked off at all City libraries yesterday and is aimed at encouraging reading and problem solving skills. We hope the two purpose designed fun booklets will create and strengthen reading habits in children. Parents, caregivers and teachers can visit Wynberg Library, or any other library, to pick up a Bingo sheet and the activity booklet, which are free of charge,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services & Health, Zahid Badroodien.
Wynberg Library has a big presence on social media with regular Pram Jam Storytelling sessions, Teen outreach programmes, Reading Programmes as well as a virtual Film Club. Close ties are also maintained with various schools, crèches and Old Age Homes.
There are three other regional libraries in fairly close proximity being Meadowridge, Claremont and Rondebosch, and Wynberg was one of the first libraries to offer a service after hard lockdown and continues to offer a drop and collect, browsing, photocopy and Smartcape service to the public.
The SmartCape service was launched in 2005, and is designed to help Cape Town residents access the internet, free of charge, at libraries across the City. There are more than 80 000 books and other material available for loan at the Wynberg library for use by the public.
The library, in line with Covid-19 protocols, can accommodate a capacity of eight people, as well as the use of two of the eight SmartCape computers due to social distancing, providing access to the internet.
Below is a list of libraries offering browsing, study space, SmartCape internet access and drop and collect services:
All Services
Adriaanse, Bellville, Eersteriver, Elsies River, Harare, Kulani, Kuilsriver, Kuyasa, Macassar, Masakhane, Melton Rose, Moses Mabhida, Mfuleni, PD Paulse, Simonstown, Strand,
Staff at the above-mentioned libraries will follow strict Covid-19 protocols. Patrons will be screened prior to entering our libraries to ensure the safety of all patrons and staff. All visitors are required to wear a mask, sanitise their hands and adhere to social distancing protocols.
Libraries open for drop and collect, study access as well as SmartCape access:
Avondale, Brackenfell, Brooklyn, Bothasig, Bishop Lavis, Camps Bay, Delft, Dunoon, Kensington, Koeberg, Mamre,, Fisantekraal Kraaifontein Langa Scottsdene Milnerton Table View Pinelands Colin Eglin Sea Point Hangberg Observatory Vredehoek Woodstock. Leonsdale, Valhalla park, Belhar, Bellville South, Huguenot Square, Parow, Manenberg, Gugulethy, Nyanga, Brown’s Farm, Crossroads, Lentegeur, Phlippi East, Rocklands, Strandfontein, Tafelsig, Town Centre, Westridge, Claremont, Rondebosch, Southfield, Fish Hoek, Grassy Park, Lotus River, Masiphummelele, Muizenberg, Ocean View, Ottery Retreat, Observatory
Libraries open for drop and collect only
Central, Goodwood, Durbanville, Rylands, Maitland, Landsdowne, Kommetjie, Bloubergstrand Maitland Edgemead and Tygervalley
Libraries open for drop and collect and SmartCape access
Hout Bay Kloofstreet , Mowbray, Athlone, Bridgetown, Hanover Park, Wynberg
Libraries open for drop and collect and browsing only
Khayelitsha Site B, Pelican Park Satellite
Libraries open for drop and collect, browsing and SmartCape access
Sir Lowry’s Pass, Somerset West, Plumstead
Libraries open for drop and collect, browsing and study access only
Heideveld, Nazeema Isaacs
Libraries open for drop and collect and study access only
Bonteheuwel
Libraries that are closed
Tokai and Wesfleur
The following operating hours will apply:
Monday to Friday 09:00-16:00 and Saturday 09:00-12:00.
Loan period – 30 days
Renewal – one renewal for additional 30 days
Borrowing privileges – 20 items including five audio-visual items (CDs/DVDs)
No reservations or inter-library loans will be done at present
Patrons and visitors are requested to acquaint themselves with the capacity limits for each of the services by accessing the information on the Online Public Catalogue (OPAC) at https://opac.capetown.gov.za/client/en_US/a/
Caption 1: Mayor Plato and Councillor Badroodien with the staff of Wynberg Library.
Caption 2: Mayor Plato and Councillor Badroodien visited Wynberg Library earlier today.
Caption 3: Head Librarian Nadia Ismail with Mayor Plato and Councillor Badroodien.
Source: City Of Cape Town