Twentieth anniversary for Sandton library

The library, situated at the Nelson Mandela Square, was first opened in 1994. According to the Sandton Town Council’s newsletter in that year, it was initially constructed at a cost of R20 million.

Apart from the library space, the building also housed an art gallery and municipal facilities.

Margaret Houliston, the assistant director of the library, said the building even won a number of architectural awards throughout the years.

She said the library has been used to host a number of prestigious award ceremonies, conferences and summits over the years. “There are various activities that can be done at the library,” added Houliston.

“The Friends of the Library has also given the library great support, and their support has grown throughout the years.”

Keith Elliot, chairman of Friends of Sandton Library said this year also marked the 10th anniversary of the organisation.

“The Friends started off this chapter of their existence in 2004 with a couple of tables in the library cloisters, on the edge of Sandton Square, selling mainly old books from the library discards, and the odd donation,” said Elliot.

The Friends are all retired volunteers, who give of their time freely to sort out the boxes of books that arrive at the library. They continue to collect donated books and assist in raising funds for the library.

“A cosmopolitan mixture of people now come to the library,” added Nobuntu Mpendulo, director of the library and information services.

Mpendulo spoke about the future of the library. She said the library has been the centre of learning and needed to be made more than that. “The City of Johannesburg is looking at revamping the library,” she said.

“We want to create a learning space as well as an online centre as part of the library space.”

She said the library was going to be made into a social hub for visitors and residents in the Sandton area.

Mpendulo added that since the library is situated in the business centre of Sandton, it is necessary to ensure the library complements the space in which it is in and the people around it.

After 20 years since the opening of the Sandton Library, tell us on our Facebook page what developments you would like to see.