The University of Cape Town’s Jagger Library, gutted by a hearth that began on 18 April 2021, is being “reimagined”, however the funds essential to rebuild the library, in no matter kind which may be, haven’t but been secured.
Jagger Library was arguably one of the crucial vital establishments within the nation. Its loss is likely one of the worst heritage disasters in latest African historical past.
An intensive public participation and “imagining” course of is ongoing, however the insurance on the constructing has not been paid out pending authorized motion between the respective insurers of the University of Cape Town (UCT), South African National Parks (SANParks) and the City of Cape Town.
The Jagger Library constructing was residence to UCT’s Special Collections, together with one of many world’s most intensive collections of African books and movies, and priceless archival collections documenting key components of southern African historical past.
Sixteen months after the hearth, issues are transferring slowly. Save for a momentary roof put in in August final year, which took two months, the Jagger constructing has not been touched.
UCT’s insurers have urged the college to take SANParks to courtroom over an expired contract between SANParks and a contractor that was alleged to deploy helicopters to douse the hearth. This authorized motion is ongoing.
UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholala advised GroundUp that though the motion is introduced within the title of UCT, the authorized motion is basically between the respective insurers of UCT, City of Cape Town, and SANParks.
Moholala stated he may disclose no additional data on the authorized motion, the insurance claims, or investigations into the hearth, however referred GroundUp to a report on the fire by SANParks. In this report, Table Mountain National Park claims that the helicopter contractors responded appropriately and on time.
Among the archives are pamphlets from political and non-profit organisations, documenting key moments in South African historical past. Photo: Daniel Steyn
Among the archives are pamphlets from political and non-profit organisations, documenting key moments in South African historical past. Photo: Daniel Steyn
Executive Director of UCT Libraries Ujala Satgoor says that constructing the brand new Jagger Library would require vital funding, which relies on the insurance payout and extra fundraising by UCT.
In the interim, varied individuals at UCT are utilizing the time to conceive of the way forward for the Jagger Library. Before the hearth, a course of was began to develop a libraries masterplan. Satgoor says that the hearth at Jagger has introduced a chance to broaden the horizon of that challenge.
Worldwide, the standard idea of a library is quickly altering, says Satgoor. Libraries are being redefined with an emphasis positioned on “intellectual experiences”. Future libraries shall be extra open and revolutionary areas, conducive to studying in varied methods.
While amassing and storing hard-copy books and paperwork will all the time be an vital perform of a library, Satgoor says, she imagines a future library complicated at UCT that accommodates a “balance and blend of spaces”, providing an array of various providers and experiences.
However, some members of the UCT group need the constructing to be restored to its unique state. This may doubtlessly be a less complicated course of, significantly when it comes to coping with heritage authorities. The Jagger Library is a provincial heritage website.
But the controversy can be political. In 2012, the Reading Room was restored to its unique state, with additions constructed within the Nineteen Sixties and Nineteen Seventies stripped away. But UCT has modified since then. “We all know that Fees Must Fall shook the foundations of higher education as we know it,” Satgoor says.
She says that new questions have emerged about learn how to make training and studying extra inclusive for younger individuals from numerous backgrounds. What to do with the Jagger Library is linked to the continuing redefining of UCT as a modern African college.
UCT’s panorama architect and heritage practitioner David Gibbs says that a reimagined Jagger Library is appropriate with a cultural view of heritage as all the time transferring ahead and altering.
Both political and sensible issues are being mulled over. A reputation change is on the playing cards and debates round learn how to re-appropriate UCT’s colonial structure are ongoing.
Meanwhile, Gibbs says there may be additionally a chance to enhance the move and aesthetics of the plaza house round Jagger. The constructing itself isn’t ideally suited for storing delicate archival materials, he says, so the long run utilization of the library can be in query.
Conservation work on the Herbert Baker assortment is underway. Photo: Daniel Steyn
Conservation work on the Herbert Baker assortment is underway. Photo: Daniel Steyn
The UCT Futures ThinkTank, established in 2018 by Vice-Chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng, has simply wrapped up an “imagining” course of to assist conceptualise the way forward for the Jagger Library.
“Normally when processes like this have happened at UCT, they were insular and closed-door. The thinking was to open up the process to the larger community,” says Dr Heeten Baghat, challenge supervisor for the Jagger Library participation course of.
Baghat has been facilitating workshops with UCT workers and college students, faculty college students, and members of the general public. These workshops, he says, have generated attention-grabbing details about individuals’s aspirations for the Jagger Library.
Baghat says that among the consultations have been simpler than others, however general it has been a optimistic course of.
“It taught us a lot about what is possible and who is interested, and we learnt valuable lessons about the next time something like this happens,” he says.
Satgoor says she is happy to see what comes out of the ThinkTank’s imagining course of, as it could additionally inform the broader Libraries Masterplan.
© 2022 GroundUp. This article was first printed here.
