Image: Facebook/University of Cape Town Libraries
Watch: Priceless African collections lost in UCT library fire
While some of the Jagger Library’s valuable collections have been lost, a full assessment can only be done once the building has been declared safe.
Image: Facebook/University of Cape Town Libraries
The executive director of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) recently said in a statement that priceless African collections have been lost in a tragic fire that engulfed the university’s Jagger Library and parts of Cape Town over the weekend of 18 April.
Damage to UCT’s Library
According to the UCT website, the Special Collections library consists of printed and audiovisual materials on African studies and a wide array of other specialised subjects, as well as more than 1 300 sub-collections of unique manuscripts and personal papers. The collection of books and pamphlets exceeds 85 000 items on African studies alone. It is understood that some material has been captured digitally.
Now, according to IOL, the director of the UCT libraries said that the Reading Room of the Jagger Library has been completely gutted by the fire. Luckily, the director, Ujala Satgoor also announced that while some parts of the library were gutted, the fire was stopped from spreading to other sections of the library.
“An unexpected natural disaster struck at the heart of UCT Libraries today and I write this message with a deep sense of sorrow and loss at the havoc and devastation it wrought upon the Reading Room of the Jagger Library. As some of us watched, from on-site, with horror and helplessness this elegant and historical library burn, I can only imagine the shock and horror you must have felt as you watched the news reports and pictures of this destruction,” Satgoor said.
Fire wreaks havoc on the Reading Room of the Jagger Library
Satgoor said at this stage, they can confirm that the Reading Room is completely destroyed.
“[But] thankfully the fire detection system in place triggered the fire shutters thereby preventing the spread of the fire to other parts of the Library. Some of our valuable collections have been lost, however, a full assessment can only be done once the building has been declared safe and we can enter the building. An official statement is forthcoming and until such time, I request that individuals refrain from speculation and conjecture.”
Satgoor also wished to acknowledge the efforts of the various UCT Properties and Services teams, the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue teams for all their efforts to control the fire and contain further damage to the Jagger Library as well as the messages of support and offers of assistance for crisis conservation.
A sad day for UCT
“To the staff and students, this is indeed a sad day for UCT and UCT Libraries! Although this loss will be felt deeply, we will weather this storm and rise from the ashes. We will keep you updated of developments and our recovery plans.”
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