DURBAN- TWO municipal libraries are to be built in the Umbumbulu and the Sankoshe areas under the eThekwini Municipality.
The libraries will be built by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture.
A report on the proposal was tabled at an executive committee meeting recently.
It said the department has proposed to establish two new libraries in Sankotshe, near Hammarsdale, and Umbumbulu to address the new for library services in these areas. Once completed, the facilities would be handed over to the eThekwini Municipality.
It said an amount of R1.6 million would be required to cater for the operational requirements of the two libraries.
It requested that authority be granted to the head of Parks, Recreation and Culture to accept the two libraries on behalf of the municipality.
Detailing the operational needs, the municipality said it will need about R1.1 million to operate the Umbumbulu library. Five staff members would be needed, it said existing staff will be transferred to the new library.
Financial breakdown of the cost to operate the library show that it will need R300 000 to maintain the building, R400 000 for external security, R150 000 for office equipment, R150 000 for electricity consumption, R80 000 for water consumption and R20 000 for refuse removal.
It will need R530 000 to operate the Sankotshe modular library. It said the library will have four staff members who will be transferred from the existing staff.
To fund operations at this library, it will need R80 000 for the maintenance of the building, R200 000 for external security and R90 000 for office equipment.
THE MERCURY