Roodepoort Library closed for construction
Residents urged to use library services at Horison View, Florida and Dobsonville
The Roodepoort Community Library has been closed since Monday, 3 April, in order for some much-needed renovations to be carried out. Library users will therefore have to make alternative plans for the next few months.
The library building was declared a national monument in 1985, and over the years has undergone only basic repairs and maintenance but not major renovations. It has now been decided that the building – which is 111 years old – will be undergoing some necessary renovations. The library is situated in the Roodepoort Central Business District, in Hodgson Street.
The major upgrades and repairs to the building will include waterproofing the roof, as it has been resealed several times over the years. Other reconstruction work will include replacing the ceiling, upgrading the security system and repairs to the plumbing and electricity supply.
The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba, said that the exact period of closure cannot be accurately planned or predicted, as heritage buildings present major challenges that surface while construction work is in progress.
“We trust that the community will understand that the facility will have to be closed for a longer period for such major reconstruction. Therefore, we are pleading with residents to be patient until we open the doors of the ‘new’ library,” she said.
In the meantime, residents are urged to use the libraries at Dobsonville, Florida and Horison View until the Roodepoort library opens again. “All programmes offered at the Roodepoort library will be carried out at these libraries as well,” Nonhlanhla.
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