EDITOR – I am feeling most distressed at the state of the Edenvale Library.
They are offline and have been for three weeks.
I have been told the other municipal libraries share the same plight.
The normal efficient service the public has received has turned into chaos.
Many learners, whose lifeline is the library, are stranded without the valuable information that has always been at their fingertips.
In all of my 20 years of being a super happy borrower, I have never known such a dismal situation or felt such disappointment in the total collapse of this wonderful service which always upheld the highest standards.
I am bringing this to your notice in the fervent hope that when this situation is highlighted, the predicament will be rectified with the utmost urgency.
Barbara Russell
EDITORS COMMENT – City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Themba Gadebe commented as follows:
The City of Ekurhuleni’s online library system is currently offline.
The City is in the process of rolling out a new library services system across all of its libraries and the licence for the old system that is being replaced has since expired.
Libraries are, therefore, using a manual system of issuing and receiving library material.
However, other library services are not affected as users can still access the latest material through the e-Book system.
There is also internet connectivity which enables users to use the library computers for other internet-based functions such as job applications, research, registrations, etc.