Treasure trove lost in South Africa university fire

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Treasure trove lost in South Africa university fire

7:53 CAT | 21 Apr 2021

The Jagger Reading Room was completely gutted in the fire. [Photo: Reuters]

The University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa has given details of the treasure trove it lost when a blaze swept through its Jagger Reading Room on Sunday.

“The fire destroyed the Jagger Reading Room, gutting its roof and destroying the galleries, adjacent stores and offices,” the university said.

Historic material that burnt to ashes included:

The vast majority of the African Studies Published Print Collection (about 70,000 items)

The entire African Studies Film Collection on DVD (about 3,500 items)

All UCT calendars

Some government documents from South Africa and across the continent

Manuscripts and archives kept in the reading room for processing or digitisation or awaiting transfer after being digitised.

Some of this, including the film archive of Africa-produced and directed movies, was irreplaceable, the library’s executive director told the BBC’s Newsday programme.

“It has been devastating… the film collection was the work of one librarian who worked on it for 20 years and she’s retiring this year, so you can imagine how devastated she is,” Ujala Satgoor said.

Source: BBC