UCT Libraries

A salvage operation began to retrieve valuable materials from the Jagger Reading Room, which was severely damaged in the runaway Table Mountain fire. Staff, students, and volunteers from outside the university came together in a beautiful expression of

As of Monday May 10, the salvaging of the entire holding

We have updated our library hours and study spaces in response to the

This last week of salvage and retrieval of materials fro

A “tragedy of unspeakable proportions” is how current and past staff of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Jagger Reading Room described the fire that left their beloved library – a safe, beautiful space, and home away from hom

Dismay and grief met the news that the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) historic Jagger Reading Room had been lost to fire on 18 April. The Jagger Reading Room was home to the African Studies collection, started in 1953, as well as portions of man

On 18 April 2021 our professional lives were changed so unexpectedly and drastically by the quirkiness of both fire and water. It's been a month of shock and deep-seated pain that witnessed the sad and joyous coming together of friends and colleagu

UCT Libraries will reopen as self-study spaces across our network of libraries from Wednesday 28 April 2021. Please visit our Library hours for opening times.

Mop-up operations are under way at the University of Cape Town (UCT), after a large-scale wildfire destroyed several historical buildings on UCT’s upper campus on Sunday, 18 April.

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.