HISTORY
OF THE LIBRARY
On
1 July 1955, the library had a humble start when the mayor, Councilor
Bezuidenhout, unlocked the door of the first library, an office
in the Town Treasurer's Department.
Early
in 1957, the library was moved to a converted residence in Van Riebeeck
Avenue. Soon, however, this building proved to be too small and
in 1961 a subcommittee was appointed to investigate the feasibility
of a new library.
 This
building designed by Mr H F Wichmann, was completed in 1964. The
design made provision for books for a population of about 20 000
and incorporated an auditorium that could seat about 200 people.
Extended
services once again created a problem of insufficient space and
constant rearrangements had to be made. In the mid-eighties, the
auditorium had to sacrificed in favour of the Children's Section.
by 1990, the problem had become so acute that no additional stock
could be accommodated - even the kitchens had to be used as work
areas! Meanwhile, the use of the Library exceeded all limits.
In
1991, a further milestone was reached when the Council approved
the construction of a new Library building. Very close co-operation
with the architect was maintained throughout all the planning and
building phases. The needs of the local community had been the focal
point during the whole process. On October 1993, the well-planned,
functional building with its aesthetically pleasing architecture
and emphasis on cultural aspects, was inaugurated. The official
opening and the unveiling of the plaque took place on 23 October
1993. Information
provided by the Ricardo Mulder Community Library - Reference Section |
The
library is spacious and is lit almost entirely by natural light.
