In Port Elizabeth, a small reading society, known as the Port Elizabeth News Society was established in 1844 and housed in a rented room above a shop in Jetty Street. The reading matter consisted mainly of English magazines and London newspapers and the main South African newspapers published at the time, in addition to a small collection of books. In 1845, the Society moved to a rented room in the Commercial Hall which stood on the site of the present Main Library building. At a public meeting held on 26 July 1848, the residents decided to start a subscription library. £585 was collected from public subscriptions, and a yearly income of £197 was guaranteed. In addition, the government of the day gave a grant of £200.
The Public Library was very successful and, partly through buying shares, but mostly through members who donated their shares, managed to acquire the Commercial Hall wholly as their own building. In 1854, the library moved out and rented the building to the Government, which used the old Commercial Hall as a court house. The library was housed at various sites until 31 July 1902, when it was officially opened and housed in its present building. In the 1960’s, plans were mooted to demolish the building in order to make way for the erection of a Provincial Administration block, which would include space for a Provincial Library Service. Fortunately, this never happened, and in 1983, the building was declared a historic monument. Today it is the only historic building in South Africa built as a Public Library which is still functioning as a public library.
I love visiting the library. It just has a different feel to it with its galleries and stained glass windows.
Just lovely! And the research is so fascinating too. Thanks for taking the time to present an intriguing image and facts.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful interior and very interesting commentary. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe architecture is incredible. The openness is wonderful. I wonder if some mischievious little fellow has ever thrown a book over the edge. Perhaps they don't allow children in the upper reaches. It's nice to see that it is being well utilized.
ReplyDeleteIncredible. What an awesome picture.It looks exactly the same as it did in the sixties when my father used to take us kids there. I can still smell the musty odor and hear the hushed silence.
ReplyDeleteOh, but wait, there is one amazing difference in the picture, and that is that that ALL the citizens of PE are welcome to share and enjoy the historic surroundings.
ReplyDeleteBeing Greta's brother I too was schlepped to the library quite regularly - the thing that I remember most was that there was a model of a ship in the lobby - is it still there?
ReplyDeleteGreta, the musty odor and hushed silence is still there is adds to the atmosphere of the library.
ReplyDeleteArnieo, as for the ship, last time I looked it was still there, but I will go and check next time I'm in the area.
Thanks for the visit and comments. You are always welcome.
nice one JF, very cool angle and lighting! One of my favourite places, so glad this part of town has been revived and it is safe to go back and enjoy it again! Yes, the ship is still there, in all its fascinating detail!
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Wow, haven't been there in ages, really should pay it a visit though....
ReplyDeleteWow - I love your blog so much, thanks.
ReplyDeleteI too recall the musty odour and hushed silence.
My mum would take me to the kids library, and whilst waiting for her, I'd go up into the balconies and hidden bits - I was convinced they were off bounds to kids because the books contained something unsuitable.
I never found anything untoward though.
amazing interior historic library! I love the library!!
ReplyDeleteLovely interior design, kwonwed a few Port Elisabeth, but more cap and Johanesburg.When i stay congo.
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What a wonderful shot! I always loved the main library - going there was such a big event, as opposed to the plain old Walmer library ;-) Those walkways and the stained glass make it more like a cathedral of learning than a room full of books.
ReplyDeleteThis place has wonderful memories for me, having grown up in PE and taken to the library every Friday afternoon by my mother. I couldn't wait to be old enough to use the main library (the children's section was downstairs). It gave me an abiding enjoyment of books. I now live in the UK and have been to many libraries worldwide, but the PE library remains my favourite. It's also so good to see, to echo an earlier comment, that ALL of Port Elizabeth's citizens can now visit and use the library. Long may it continue.
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