ABOUT OUR LIBRARIES
The NMBM Library Service is made up of the 20 public libraries of the former City of Port Elizabeth, and the towns of Despatch and Uitenhage. Libraries are situated in Algoa Park, Allanridge, Booysen Park, Chatty, Despatch, Elukhanyisweni, Gelvandale, Kwadwesi, Kwamagxaki, Kwanobuhle, Linton Grange, the centre of town in Port Elizabeth (Main Library), Motherwell, Newton Park, North End, Walmer, West End, the Uitenhage town centre, and Zwide. In- Books, magazines, CDs and DVDs available for loan
- eBooks and downloadable audiobooks for loan via the eMedia Library
- Newspapers for reading in the library
- Access to reference and research resources
- Assistance with school projects and assignments
- Regular craft workshops and work sessions at certain libraries
- Storyhours in the library and at various creches and schools
- Reading, games and craft activities for children during school holidays
- Fax and photocopy facilities
- Study space for students at certain libraries
SCHOOL PROJECTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Staff will not do the actual assignment for the learner, but will provide assistance with locating relevant information, and guidance on how to use certain reference sources such as dictionaries, atlases and encyclopedias. If time permits, staff will also retrieve information from reputable sites on the internet and from the pamphlet files in the library.Schools are welcome to contact the libraries to arrange orientation visits for their classes. During such visits the learners are introduced to the library and all its resources, and are shown how to retrieve information from reference sources.
This library forms part of the Red Location Precinct which currently houses a Museum, an Art Gallery, and the Library. The aim of the Library is to document apartheid history, mainly in digital format, so as to serve as an information resource for researchers worldwide. The library building is complete, but is not currently occupied due to ongoing discussion on a political level with the local residents to allow this to happen. The Museum and the Art Gallery are likewise closed to the public and the staff are working off-site.
Specialised research facilities are also available. The Red Location Library is a digital library which has as its main objective documenting the history of apartheid in South Africa, with further information on colonialism and liberation struggles
The contact numbers of the libraries are available under "Libraries" in the A-Z Services Directory on this website.
NMBM library card holders may also access the e-magazine and e-newspaper library via the NMBM website. (Please note that this service is awaiting contract renewal. Once the contract is finalised, the service will be available to the public.)
Teachers and educators are encouraged to let the library know which topics are being set as assignments and projects. The staff will then locate suitable books, and place them on a theme table, as well as restricting the loan of such books. This prevents the first learner coming into the library from borrowing all the books on the topic, leaving none for the rest of the class.
RED LOCATION MUSEUM LIBRARY
This library forms part of the Red Location Precinct which currently houses a Museum, an Art Gallery, and the Library. The aim of the Library is to document apartheid history, mainly in digital format, so as to serve as an information resource for researchers worldwide. The library building is complete, but is not currently occupied due to ongoing discussion on a political level with the local residents to allow this to happen. The Museum and the Art Gallery are likewise closed to the public and the staff are working off-site.
As the Library resources are envisaged to be mainly digital, a number of relevant books have been purchased and are available from the library service eMedia Library