LISTEN: Is Hillary Library in the right place? Have your say about your local library

THE city is planning a review of the leases of libraries situated in privately owned buildings.

DA leader for Durban, Nicole Graham, recently posted a request on social media for people to comment on the facilities on the list, which included Hillary’s municipal library, situated in the shopping centre near Hillary Primary School in Stella Road.

“The issue is that there is a portfolio community services committee which deals with issues to do with libraries, but in the past the committee hadn’t been working smoothly, so the item of renewals had often not been given to people for comment. There needs to be consultation with the public. So we asked that people, through councillors, are able to give input regarding the lease renewals,” explained Graham.

The Parks, Recreation and Culture Department report, which came before exco on Wednesday, had made recommendations that leases for libraries housed in private buildings be extended for a further five years.

According to Graham, the report had been put together hastily and without consultation from those affected by decisions about libraries.

She said input from the people in the communities would be valuable to assist the committee to make decisions about the placement of the libraries, whether they were working well where they currently are, or whether they were facing challenges such as being too small or not easily accessible.

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Exco has decided to defer the matter until 27 June, and called for a quick consultation process between the committee and councillors.  Graham said people need to provide their input as soon as possible.

“We have asked all the wards to give input and we will forward it before the item comes to council so that we can keep the public informed and help them have a voice.”