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Gqeberha Main Library Visit: THIS may be one of those times you kick yourself

By

And why would you kick yourself?

  • Firstly for not joining bela
    Secondly (for some) for not being a lady

Because on 2 November 2022 the Built Environment Ladies Association (bela) are going on a site visit to the Gqeberha Main Library.

Click here to book: https://bela.org.za/events/

Gqeberha Main Library

The visit to the Main Library is a huge scoop for the ladies as the Main Library has been CLOSED for many years, in order that vital maintenance work be done. The Main Library is situated in Market Square and designed in the Victorian Gothic style and it is not at all possible to gain entry into the building, either as a tourist or a library card holder.

The librarian in charge of the Africana Section is the only one permitted access to the reference section for an hour each weekday morning; no other person is permitted access.

The building was designed Henry Cheers, an Architect from Twickenham. The Library was officially opened on 29 July 1902. It was built in the late Victorian style incorporating a mixture of idiosyncratic Gothic and classical features. It was declared a National Monument under old NMC legislation on 7 December 1973.

The bela walk about will be led by Matrix Architects CC Director, Professor Albrecht Herholdt.

The majestic Sicilian marble statue of Queen Victoria, which keeps watch over the Market Square, was erected and unveiled in 1903.

In the then 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. In 1965, after a public referendum was held, the assets of the Port Elizabeth Public Library and the North End Library were handed over to the Port Elizabeth Municipality and, together with the assets of the Walmer Library, formed the nucleus of the municipal Port Elizabeth Public Libraries.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.