Libraries

Ray Nkonyeni Municipal libraries offers a free public library service at 13 circulating libraries across the Municipal area.  Anyone may use these libraries, but only members may loan library material.  Items on loan must be returned to the same library from which they were borrowed.  Details of libraries can be found under contacts.

Further services include:

Mobile library units

Modular library

Cyber zones in certain libraries

Everyone is welcome to use the resources of the Ray Nkonyeni Municipal Libraries. 

For more details on different types of membership please consult the Policies and Tariffs section

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

HISTORY:

The Port Shepstone Public Library – Reading Room was established on 4th March 1904.  The library opened on 15 June 1904.   There was only a very few library members.  The library relocated a couple of times to the current site of Port Shepstone library. 

The library was handed over to the Provincial Library Scheme in 1952.  This library and the others in our Municipal area grew from strength to strength. All libraries are well used for recreational as well as educational reading/use.

All the small municipal entities amalgamated into the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality.

The Ray Nkonyeni Municipal Libraries consists of the following libraries from previous municipalities/town boards:

The Southport public library – Bendigo Town Board had applied for affiliation for the Southport library from Provincial library services.  In 1977 the library was built.

The Marburg library was originally a Park-a-library.  The current site of the Marburg library was selected in 1980.  Building of the library started in 1981. 

The Albersville library was build and opened in 1989.

The Merlewood library was built in 1992 and opened in 1993.

The Hibberdene library service started in 1972/1973 and was run from the Town hall.  The Town Board applied for funding from the Provincial Library Service and the library opened in 1975.

LIBRARIES WITH PREVIOUS MUNICIPALITIES/TOWNBOARDS

Hibberdene library                        Hibberdene Townboard

Southport library                           Bendigo Townboard

Umtentweni library                      Umtentweni Townboard

Port Shepstone library                  Port Shepstone Municipality

Marburg library                             Marburg Townboard

Albersville library                          Marburg Townboard

Uvongo library                               Uvongo Townboard

Margate library                              Margate Townboard

Port Edward library                       Port Edward Townboard

Izingolweni library                         Izingolweni Municipality

Sazi Nelson library                         Hibiscus Coast Municipality

Membership

Membership is minimal and is open to all library members

Recruitment of members is to be continuous to replace volunteers who leave

The membership must be fully representative of the community served by the library

Committee members will not receive remuneration

Meetings

An AGM will be held annually in which an executive committee will be appointed and the following office bearers will be elected: chairperson, treasurer, secretary, Librarian, senior librarian.

The committee has power to co-opt members or individuals for projects

Will meet bi-monthly

The secretary will keep the minutes

Minutes of meetings must be sent to Head of Department

Finance

There will be a savings/current account for monies raised through donations and fund-raising.

There will be 3 signatories for withdrawing money

A financial statement to be tabled by the treasurer in the AGM

Financial year will run from 1 July to 30 June of each year

Should a decision be taken in the AGM to dissolve the committee, the librarian in charge together with the chairman will act as liquidators and settle all outstanding debts of the friends and monies left will be handed to the librarian to be used for library purposes

Monies raised through donations and fund-raising will be used for the following purposes:

 

     POLICIES AND TARIFFS

INTERNET ACCESS GUIDELINES

  • The Internet @ your library project offers computer and internet access for the benefit of the community and its members free of charge. Users may be charged for printing costs.
  • The computers are for the use of community m embers of all ages.
  • All library users should have equal rights to access the computers and the internet.
  • The computers and internet services are used for recreational, educational and information purposes, as required by the library user. No illegal activities are allowed.
  • To use the computers, it is recommended to be a member of the library. Unregistered users may be required to show identification.
  • No copying or downloading of copyrighted material is allowed. Copyright rules and Digital Rights Management (DRM) must be complied with.
  • No streaming videos, webcams or music are allowed.

These computers are protected against pornography and all illegal activities.  Filtering software is used to safeguard children and prevent illegal activities on computers.

  • For fair use, time limits are set by the library per session.
  • To ensure privacy and security of your own work, files created should be copied onto a personal disk(s).
  • Users of public computers should be aware that these computers are in a public facility and take appropriate precautions with regards to accessing facilities such as internet banking and online account payments.
  • The installing software and / or changing system settings are prohibited.
  • When listening to CD’s or watching videos while using the computers please respect the rights of other library users and bring your own headphones. No streaming of videos or music is allowed.

  LIBRARY TARIFFS

2021/2022

 

 

See attached copy of current tariffs of charges.

 

 

 

R 0.00

LIBRARY MEMBERSHIP

  • Individual

Free to users who reside in the Ray Nkonyeni Municipal area

  • Institutional

Free to schools and other organizations in the Ray Nkonyeni area

  • Visitors

Open to users who require temporary membership at a fee.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

Who can join the Ray Nkonyeni Libraries?

Any person who resides in the Ray Nkonyeni Municipal area

A visitor at a fee

What is available to me as a library member?

Basic lending service – for your reading needs (books)

Assistance with school projects

Research

Newspapers and magazines

Special requests

Assistance with computer use

Computer training

Audiovisual material

Computer facilities

Library for the blind

Toy libraries

Gaming

 

How many items may I borrow?

11 items

How long may I keep these items?

 Two weeks

You can renew certain items for a longer period

 

What happens if I do not return or renew the items on time?

You will pay a fine as per tariff of charges

 

CONTACT DETAILS

13 Libraries in Ray Nkonyeni Municipality

Hibberdene library

Situation – physical address:     

124 Minerva Crescent

Hibberdene

Postal address:

P O Box 4

Hibberdene

4220

Tariffs:  As per council resolution

Hours of operation:       

Monday – Friday 09h00 – 16h30

Saturdays             09h00 - 13h00

Telephone number:       039-6992915

Southport Library

Situation – physical address:     

Porter Road

Southport

 Postal address:

Private Bag 716

Port Shepstone

4240

Tariffs:  As per council resolution

Hours of operation:       

Monday – Friday   09h00–16h30

Saturdays               09h00–13h00

Telephone number:       039-6813268

Umtentweni library

Situation – physical address:     

Abingdon Road

Umtentweni

Postal address:

Private Bag 716

Port Shepstone

4240

Tariffs:  As per council resolution

Hours of operation:       

Monday – Friday 19h00 –16h30

Saturdays             09h00 – 13h00

Telephone number:       039-6952364

Port Shepstone Library

Situation – physical address:

10 Conner Street

Port Shepstone

Postal address:

Private Bag 716

Port Shepstone

4240

Tariffs:  As per council resolution

Hours of operation:       

Monday – Friday 09h00 – 16h30

Saturdays - 09h00 – 13h00

Telephone number: 039-6882061

 

Albersville Library

Situation – physical address:     

Albersville Road

Albersville

Postal address:

Private Bag 716

Port Shepstone

4240

Tariffs:  As per council resolution

Hours of operation:       

Monday – Friday 09h00 –16h30

Saturday - 09h00 – 13h00

Telephone number: 039-6882063

Marburg Library

Situation – physical address:     

Cnr Main Harding and Protea roads

Postal address:

Private Bag 716

Port Shepstone

4240

Tariffs:  As per council resolution

Hours of operation:       

Monday – Friday 09h00 – 16h30

Saturday - 09h00 – 13h00

Telephone number: 039-6882066

Merlewood Library

Situation – physical address:     

Lot 239 cnr Palm and Wattle drive

Merlewood

Postal address:

Private Bag 716

Port Shepstone

4240

Tariffs:  As per council resolution

Hours of operation:       

Monday – Friday 09h00 – 16h30

Saturday - 09h00 – 13h00

Telephone number: 039-6854537

Gamalakhe Library

Situation – physical address:     

Gamalakhe Civic Offices

Postal address:

P O Box 273

Gamalakhe

4249

Tariffs:  As per council resolution

Hours of operation:       

Monday – Friday 09h00 – 16h30

Saturdays - 09h00 – 13h00

Telephone number: 039-3181001

Uvongo Library

Situation – physical address:     

Cresent Road

Uvongo

Postal address  :            

P O Box 13

Uvongo

4270

Tariffs:  As per council resolution

Hours of operation:       

Monday – Friday 09h00 – 16h00

Saturdays - 09h00 – 13h00

Telephone number: 039-3159261/0

Margate Library

Situation – physical address:     

North Avenue

Margate

Postal address:

P O Box 788

Margate

4275

Tariffs:  As per council resolution

Hours of operation:       

Monday – Friday 09h00 – 16h00

Saturdays - 09h00 – 13h00

Telephone number: 039-3128425

Port Edward Library

Situation – physical address:     

Cnr Dover road and Owen Ellis Drive

Port Edward

Postal address:

P O Box 663

Port Edward

4295

Tariffs:  As per council resolution

Hours of operation:       

Monday – Friday 09h00 – 16h30

Saturday - 09h00 – 13h00

Telephone number: 039-3112281

Sazi Nelson Library

Situation – physical address:

KwaNdwalane unamend road on way to

Nyandazulu/Bhomela   

Sazi Nelson

Postal address:

Private bag 716

Port Shepstone

4240

Tariffs:  As per council resolution

Hours of operation:       

Monday – Friday 09h00 – 16h30

Saturdays - 09h00 – 13h00

Telephone number: None

Izingolweni Library

Situation – physical address:

Main Harding Road

Izingolweni

Postal address:

P O Box 108

Izingolweni

4260

Tariffs:  As per council resolution

Hours of operation:       

Monday – Friday 09h00 – 16h30

Saturdays  - 09h00 – 13h00

Telephone number: 039-5341582

 

LIBRARY SERVICES EXTENDED TO RURAL AREAS

WHEELIE WAGON RURAL LIBRARIES

With this service, the Municipal libraries reach out to the rural areas where there are not libraries.  These mobile library units each has a photocopier to give a copy service (at a cost) to the community as well as book exchanges to get new books for these libraries.  They are visited by the Provincial library Service staff on a regular basis.

Maveshe hall

Maygog hall

Madlala Thusong centre

Gcilima info centre

Breamer hall

A new Modular library will be opening soon in KwaZimakwe.

FREE PUBLIC INTERNET SERVICES – WITHOUT FULL CYBER SERVICE

 

Umtentweni library

Port Shepstone library

Uvongo library

Southport library

Marburg library

Albersville library

Merlewood library

The use of computers are free of charge at all libraries.

Patrons only pay for prints as per tariff of charges.

 

FREE PUBLIC INTERNET SERVICES - WITH FULL CYBER SERVICE

Margate library

Gamalakhe library

Sazi Nelson library

Hibberdene library

Port Edward library

Izingolweni library

At the libraries with cyber café’s, basic training in computers are done.

Users can apply to be trained.

Cybers do school visits and inform learners about computer services at libraries.

Cybers also do workshops at schools, childrens homes ets to teach them aboun computers.

TOY LIBRARY    

Gamalakhe library

Sazi Nelson library

Port Shepstone library

Margate library

MINI-LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND

Margate library

Sazi Nelson library

Port shepstone library

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK

This National Library week is celebrated annually.  Libraries normally have fine free week during library week to motivate members to return very overdue books.

 

ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY

All libraries do outreach projects in the community.  The aim of the projects are to inform people about what our local libraries offers to the community.

Should community members want a library to visit their establishment, they can make arrangements with their closest library.

Ray Nkonyeni Municipal libraries are here to serve the community. For any additional requests, people must contact the  Senior Librarians.