The state-of-the-art Gqebera public library in Walmer Township, which was officially opened in June 2017, was one of a few libraries in Nelson Mandela Bay that made the grade when it came to providing visitors with free Wi-Fi access.
And while many libraries received a “pass mark”, internet accessibility appeared to be the biggest headache for patrons who visited libraries to look for jobs or to study.
At most, the lack of Wi-Fi and in some cases, non-functioning computers, were frustrating for visitors.
“You can call our library a one-stop shop for jobseekers,” Walmer Ward 4 councillor Ayanda Tyokwana said.
“We are very proud of it and it is one of the assets in the township which really serves everyone in the community – from learners, to university students and people who are looking for work.”
While that was the case in Walmer Township, the library in Main Road, Walmer, and the Newton Park library had Wi-Fi access, but it appeared to be limited to Nelson Mandela Bay students with valid student numbers.
The Herald team also visited public establishments in Algoa Park, Booysen Park, Gelvandale and Korsten.
The Booysen Park library was closed for most of the week due to protests in the area. None of the computers meant for patrons were working at the library in Gelvandale, and, while libraries in Algoa Park and Korsten had computers, there was no internet access.
“For me, it would have been an added bonus if the computers worked and the Wi-Fi worked,” Janice Moos, who works at a retail store close to the library in Gelvandale, said.
“Other than that I’m happy because I always find the book I’m interested in, but it really would be good if they could fix the computers and the internet so that when I see a job in the paper I want to apply for, I could do it here at the library.
“I always come here during my lunch break.”
Another Gelvandale resident, Thomas Davids, 62, said: “I just come to read the newspaper at the library, I’m not really interested in the books.
“My only issue is the fact that they only have The Herald – I wish they had a variety of newspapers.”
Nita Lindeque, a patron at the library in Newton Park, said: “We stay in Blue Horizon Bay, it’s about half-an-hour away [from Newton Park library], but I bring my children here for extramural activities.
“The staff are very nice and friendly, there are lots of books for the adults but there are not so many newer books for the children.
“The other books they’ve read already. That’s my only issue.”
But a staff member, who did not want to be named, said the library received new books regularly.
“I don’t know what the lady [Lindeque] was talking about because we do have new books at the library that we get regularly.
“If there is a specific book she wants for her children, or that they [the children] want, they should come ask us because we try our best to label all of the books.
“So that’s not a problem because we’re here to help.
“The only problem is that sometimes people’s things go missing.
“The cameras are not working so we are unable to check what happened when people report their things stolen,” the staff member said.
Another patron, Khulisile Ndlela, 26, who is completing her master’s degree in zoology, said she enjoyed the peace and quiet inside the library.
“It is my preferred space to come and study.
“I can also access free Wi-Fi using my student number.”