This comes after the National Lotteries Commission allocated over R1.7 million to the library's Trust. According to the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality Spokesperson, Sello Matsie, developments at the library will greatly benefit the community and students. Matsie says the construction phase at the Sol Plaatje University has started and the library will soon be assisting local students with their studies.

"This library is one of the oldest libraries in the country, which means some of the publications in the library date back to the colonial era. The funding will assist in digitalising some of these books. As the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality we are grateful for the donation by the National Lotteries Commission."

Matsie says the research library houses items of historical importance to the Northern Cape region and South Africa in general.  He says the library conducts research on a national and international level in fields such as mining, geology, the Anglo-Boer War and social studies. 

He adds the National Lottery Act guides the allocation of funds and the approved items which the grant will fund, include a conservation workshop, the installation of fire safety measures, high-class conservation sealer equipment for conservation purposes and the completion of the digitisation of publications.

Katleho Morapela/OFM News