Upgraded Philippi library welcomed

Feebearing - Cape Town - 150929 - The Crossroads Library in Phillipi has been relocated to The Hub in the Phillipi Village. Executive Mayor Patricia de Lille and Alderman Belinda Walker opened the library this morning. Pictured: The library has been up graded significantly to include multimedia. REPORTER: VIWE NDONGENI. PICTURE: WILLEM LAW

Feebearing - Cape Town - 150929 - The Crossroads Library in Phillipi has been relocated to The Hub in the Phillipi Village. Executive Mayor Patricia de Lille and Alderman Belinda Walker opened the library this morning. Pictured: The library has been up graded significantly to include multimedia. REPORTER: VIWE NDONGENI. PICTURE: WILLEM LAW

Published Sep 29, 2015

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Raphael Wolf and Zimkhitha Mbunge

THE newly refurbished Crossroads Library in Philippi will provide its users with a safer, more spacious and superior technological, recreational and educational environment than its old premises.

That was according to librarian-in-charge Kumbula Macilikishe when she explained the differences between the old and the new libraries yesterday.

She said the old one had been on the corner of Lansdowne Road and Intsikizi Street from 1991 until its closure on September 16, while the new library is in the new Philippi Village business complex on the corner of Lansdowne and Eisleben roads.

“It’s the same library, but in a safer and bigger place with better services.

“We were struggling with (scarce) resources and high crime rates (at the old one), because there were hijackings, gunpointing and burglaries; they stole computers, phones and (there was) cable theft.”

She said that because of high crime, there had been little usage of the old library, but that more people would come to use the new library with its extensive resources.

“I feel good in this safer and bigger space with its new technology. We had security at the old place, but only during the day. Here, we will have 24-hour, seven-days-a-week security,” she said.

Facilities at the new library include 15 computers, a children’s corner with a large wall and chalkboard, a teen area with knee-high chess pieces, conference rooms, and administrative and other offices.

“This is one of the best moves they did,” said library user Thembelani Dyule, who added: “I say so because of the safe location this new library is situated in, its size and the equipment installed.

“This vibrant community, full of children, is finally getting the library it deserves, unlike the previous library.”

The new library is double the size of the old one, and is designed to promote education from an early age, said Macilikishe, who hopes its dwindling number of users would increase.

Mayor Patricia de Lille opened the new library yesterday, with Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC Anroux Marais, Mayco member for Community Services and Special Projects Belinda Walker, local residents and Crossroads’ Imbasa Primary School pupils attending.

De Lille said: “As part of the City’s commitment to building an opportunity, caring and inclusive city, the library has been relocated to this new space which is bigger and more modern; with additional study space, Smart Cape and wi-fi facilities and training rooms.

“I am delighted to make a donation of books today to the library. I am donating these books as part of Biblionef’s 1 Million Books campaign, which aims to encourage a love of reading by donating one million South African storybooks to schoolchildren by the end of 2016.”

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