Central Library Cape Town
{{short description|Public library in Cape Town, South Africa}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use South African English|date = December 2023}}
{{Infobox library
| library_name = Central Library Cape Town
| name_en =
| library_logo =
| image = Old Drill Hall, Darling Street, Cape town.JPG
| caption = Old Drill Hall
| country = South Africa
| type = Public library
| scope =
| established = 1954
| ref_legal_mandate =
| location = Old Drill Hall, Parade Street, Cape Town
| coordinates = {{Coord|-33.9259|18.4243|display=inline}}
| branch_of = City of Cape Town Library and Information Service
| num_branches =
| items_collected =
| collection_size =
| criteria =
| legal_deposit =
| req_to_access =
| pop_served =
| members =
| budget =
| director =
| num_employees =
| website = {{URL|https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/See-all-city-facilities/Our-service-facilities/Libraries/Central%20public%20library|Central Public Library}}
| phone_num = 0214440902
| references =
}}
{{Location map | Cape Town
| AlternativeMap = OpenStreetMap Cape Town small.svg
| width = 220
| float = right
| caption = Location Central Library in Cape Town.
| alt = Map of Cape Town with mark showing location of Central Library.
| label = Central Library Cape Town
| lat_deg = -33.925889
| lon_deg = 18.424297
}}
File:Cape Town Central Library interior 2018a.jpg
Central Library Cape Town is a public library in Cape Town, South Africa. It is one of 104 libraries within the City of Cape Town Library and Information Services.[https://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Library/Pages/LibrayServices2.aspx Library and Information Services] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714164640/https://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Library/Pages/LibrayServices2.aspx# |date=2014-07-14 }}, City of Cape Town website
Central Library includes lending and reference services as well as specialised art and music sections. There are 90 plus computers plus free Wi-Fi for library members. The library offers books, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks and magazines for loan. It is the only public library in Cape Town with books in all 11 official languages and also has books in foreign languages.[http://www.capetownmagazine.com/central-library Central Library], Cape Town Magazine, Antonio Heil
Introduction
Central Library was established in 1954 when the Cape Town City Libraries took over the subscription library of the South African Library.[http://www.smartcape.org.za/articles/index.php?dir=Libraries/Cape%20Town%20City%20Libraries%20ANNUAL%20REPORTS/], 1954 annual report In 1962 the library moved to the Waalburg building in the city centre. In 1982 the library moved again, this time to Cape Town's City Hall[http://www.smartcape.org.za/articles/index.php?dir=Libraries/Cape%20Town%20City%20Libraries%20ANNUAL%20REPORTS/], 1981 annual report The library received two grants from the Carnegie Corporation which allowed the library collections to be significantly improved and extended and a computer centre was established.{{Cite web|url = http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Pages/NewCentralLibrarywillbeaCentreofExcellence.aspx|title = City of Cape Town|date = 2008|access-date = 11 October 2014|website = City of Cape Town|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141014224849/http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Pages/NewCentralLibrarywillbeaCentreofExcellence.aspx|archive-date = 14 October 2014|url-status = dead}} The City of Cape Town, provided funds for a new library to be established in the [https://web.archive.org/web/20180109164350/http://www.sahistory.org.za/places/drill-hall-darling-street-cape-town Old Drill Hall]. Central Library opened in this new permanent site in 2008.{{cite web | url=http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Pages/NewCentralLibrarywillbeaCentreofExcellence.aspx | title='New' Central Library will be a Centre of Excellence for all Capetonians | publisher=City of Cape Town | date=2008 | access-date=11 October 2014 | website=City of Cape Town | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014224849/http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Pages/NewCentralLibrarywillbeaCentreofExcellence.aspx | archive-date=14 October 2014 | url-status=dead }}
History
There has been a public library in the centre of Cape Town since 1818 when the South African Public Library (SAPL) was established.{{Cite web|url = http://www.nlsa.ac.za/index.php/where-we-come-from|title = Wherewe|access-date = 11 October 2014|website = Where we come from|publisher = National Library of South Africa|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141019084924/http://www.nlsa.ac.za/index.php/where-we-come-from|archive-date = 19 October 2014|url-status = dead}} This was a free library until 1829 when it became a subscription library.
In 1952 the Cape Town City Library Service (CTLS) was established to create a free municipal library service for Cape Town. In December 1954, after negotiations, the CTLS took over the subscription library of the South African Public Library, buying the stock and renting the reading room. Central Library was established and opened to the public in January 1955. In 1956 a branch was opened in Long Street which included non-fiction books, children's books and music.
In 1962 Central moved from SAPL to SANLAM building, Waal Street. The music section was also moved from Long Street to this building. In 1965 the Central and Long Street branches were amalgamated to form a new and enlarged Central branch.
Apartheid legislation affected the service offered by libraries. The 1953 Reservation of Separate Amenities Act resulted in libraries being designated for specific library groups.{{cite web | url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/south-african-parliament-repeals-separate-amenities-act-1953 | title=South African Parliament repeals The Separate Amenities Act of 1953 | publisher=South African History Online | access-date=25 October 2014}} In 1969 City Park library was opened and all "non-white" members of Central were transferred to City Park Library.{{Cite web|url = http://www.smartcape.org.za/articles/index.php?dir=Libraries/Cape%20Town%20City%20Libraries%20ANNUAL%20REPORTS/|title = Annual Report 1968-1969-1970|access-date = 25 October 2014|website = Cape Town: Digitized Pamphlet Files|publisher = City of Cape Town}} However the Central information and Music libraries could still be used by ‘non-white" members.Minutes of meeting held at Central Library, Burg St, Monday 27 January 1969. Available from Central Library Archive, Cape Town
Art Library
One of only two public art libraries in South Africa. The library covers all aspects of arts and crafts and is especially strong in African and South African art; Photography; Fashion and Graphic Design. The library is well used by students and local craftsmen and artists.
The art library, as a specialised department within Central, opened in 1965.{{cite web | url=http://www.smartcape.org.za/articles/index.php?dir=Libraries/Cape%20Town%20City%20Libraries%20ANNUAL%20REPORTS/&file=Cape%20Town%20City%20libraries%20report%20on%20the%20years%201965-1966-1967.pdf | title=Annual Report 1967 | publisher=City of Cape Town | date=1968 | access-date=26 July 2014}}
The Performing Arts & Music Library
A music library was included in the Long Street Library when it opened in 1956. The library included gramophone records, sheet music and the Evelyn Fincken Collection and the collection of the Cape Guild of Organists. The first issue of gramophone records in South Africa by a public library was on 5 July 1956 from the Long Street Library.{{Cite web|url = http://www.smartcape.org.za/6D9E8502F16A4e9aB7CFD01EC5FFCDD7/Agreement.htm?r=http%3a%2f%2fwww.smartcape.org.za%2farticles%2findex.php%3fdir%3dLibraries%2fCape%2520Town%2520City%2520Libraries%2520ANNUAL%2520REPORTS%2f%26file%3dCity%2520Of%2520Cape%2520Town%2520libraries%25201956.pdf|title = Annual Report 1956|date = 1957|access-date = 11 October 2014|website = Cape Town: Digitized Pamphlet Files|publisher = City of Cape Town}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Old Drill Hall, Darling Street}}
- [https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/See-all-city-facilities/Our-service-facilities/Libraries/Central%20Public%20Library Cape Town Central Library], Cape Town government website
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20151208131330/http://coct.slims.gov.za/desktop/desktopct/core/index.phtml?language=&euser=&session=&service=&robot=&deskservice=desktop&desktop=desktopct&workstation=&extra= Library OPAC], City of Cape Town website
{{Cape Town|education}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Libraries in Cape Town