New Library Opens at Paarl

On 9 March 2012, the new Paarl Library was officially opened by Dr Ivan Meyer, Minister for Cultural Affairs and Sport. This was quite a historic event, as it was exactly 45 years after the previous library had been opened.

The opening function was held in a marquee tent in a park opposite the library. The Mayor of Drakenstein, Advocate Gesie van Deventer, welcomed the public. In her welcoming speech, she described the new library as another pearl on the string and she described it as a jewel for the days ahead.

In his opening speech, Dr Ivan Meyer said that libraries build nations, establish nations and grow nations. He expressed the hope that the new library will touch people's lives. The new library was co-funded between the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, which made available R4 million from Conditional Grant funding, and the municipality of Drakenstein. This co-operation exemplifies the new slogan of the Western Cape Government "Better Together", as it is an example of how co-operation between different spheres of government contributes to building facilities for a socially inclusive community.