Know your town: Old Library Museum

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The first public library in Graaff-Reinet was established in 1847. Funds were subscribed to build the central portion of the present building in Church Street. The plot of ground was later donated by the Government.

By 1878 the original building proved inadequate, necessitating the addition of the southern wing. In 1926 the northern wing was added on the site of the old branddam (a stone reservoir kept full of water for use in the event of fire).

This building served the town as its library until 1981 when a modern library was built in Parsonage Street. The municipality donated the old building to the Graaff-Reinet Museum which now uses it to house specialised collections. It was proclaimed a National Monument on 27 February 1987.

In 2005, with the assistance of the National Lottery Distribution fund, the Board of Trustees of the museum developed the building to include conference facilities and exhibition areas to portray the history of the previously disadvantaged community of Graaff-Reinet.

There are 11 exhibitions in the Old Library covering Slavery in the Eastern Cape, to various achievements of famous people from Graaff-Reinet, to historical documents and fossils.

There are 11 exhibitions in the Old Library.