Community group rallies to save books
Thanks to the efforts of the Brakpan Radio Group, some of these resources are now being housed in the new library.
A group of passionate community members got together last week to move the abandoned contents of the old Brakpan Library to the new one.
It was reported on the front page of last week’s Herald ‘Brakpan history in ruins‘ how the former library had become a haven for vandals and vagrants.
The premises were vacated when the new facility was opened last year, but council failed to move a majority of the library resources, and the building, filled with thousands of books, historical documents, including the town’s Brakpan Herald archives, and other items were left to decay.
Thanks to the efforts of the Brakpan Radio Group, however, some of these resources are now being housed in the new library.
Following on from their admirable action the previous week in barricading the doors to the old library to prevent access to trespassers, the group took it upon themselves to move some of the books and the Herald’s archives.
The archive collection was moved on Wednesday and members regrouped on Friday to tackle the books.
Making use of a five-ton truck and four bakkies, they were able to move a substantial quantity.
In the official response to the Herald’s request for comment, the City of Ekurhuleni failed to explain why the books and other resources had been left behind when the premises were vacated.
Spokesperson Themba Gadebe only confirmed that the books (in boxes) and archives had been moved and added that a skip was requested and delivered “to clean the place”.
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