adminThe Rhodesia Herald, 22 December 1971
THE Queen Victoria Memorial Library has been hard hit by the rising cost of books and is finding it difficult in filling its shelves and those of its four branches.
The chairman of the finance sub-committee of the library council, Mr A. B. Marjoribanks said the problem of funds could be solved, apart from increasing subscriptions, only through the Municipality, the Government or other sources.
“Our income is roughly two thirds from subscriptions and one-third from grants,” he said.
“As our membership increases, so our revenue from subscriptions goes up, but we do not get any more from grants.”
The Queen Victoria Memorial Library has four branches in the suburbs. Another is to be opened in Arcadia towards the middle of next year.
Mrs M Ross-Smith, librarian, said that stock was between 40 000 and 50 000 books. The branches took about 10 000 books.
“For the last half of the present financial year, ending in June, we have to curtail our expenditure drastically. The outlook of the first six months of next year is very gloomy indeed,” she said.
Mr Marjoribanks said that two years ago the finance sub-committee of the library applied to the Municipality for more money and suggested that it should match the income from the subscribers on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
This suggestion was rejected by the Municipality but it did increase the grant at the time making the annual sum $16 000.
The Library receives an annual Government grant of $20 200. The total membership of the library is 14 385.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Harare City Library is what used to be the Queen Victoria Memorial Library and is situated in Harare’s Central Business District. Other sub-libraries, most of them now in a dysfunctional state are located in various suburbs in Harare.
As a public space, the Harare City Library should be well stocked with multimedia collections, highly trained and experienced personnel and the latest technology, but that is not the case.
Like most local government departments, the public library continues to struggle to provide a service as a central information centre node for city dwellers and researchers. Financial problems are central to Harare City Library’s failure to meet its goals and objectives.
Current collections are old and not relevant to local needs. Most of the books are donations from overseas.
Celebrated writer Petina Gappah in 2011 wrote a sentimental piece in The Africa Report about Harare City Library. Titled “Zimbabwe: The house that books built”, she presents the state of the art the of the library, with the hope of reviving the City Library.
Ms Gappah launched the Africa Report campaign to help support the Harare City Library: “ . . . Harare City Library needs your support. If you can help by donating books, periodicals and magazines or money, please contact the Harare City Library on [email protected].
More information about The Africa Report’s campaign to help the library on [email protected].
In 2016, Harare City Library honoured the writer for her efforts to inject life into the library.
Online Reporter