Dear students and colleagues
Since late last week, volunteers across the University of Cape Town (UCT) have helped to recover 50% of the archival materials housed within the Jagger Reading Room, which was destroyed by fire on Sunday, 18 April. UCT Libraries urgently needs more volunteers to help salvage the remaining 50% of the collection. Shifts are available from 08:00 to 13:00 and 13:00 to 18:00 from today until Sunday, 9 May. It is important to register in advance, as limited spaces are available for each shift and you will need to show a confirmation email to security upon arrival.
This is a completely volunteer position with no paid remuneration. Parking is available on campus.
All work will take place on a construction site so it is essential to wear sturdy closed shoes for safety. Hard hats will be made available to volunteers and will be sanitised after each shift. All COVID-19 protocols will be observed. Please do not come if you have any symptoms, however mild, that could be possible COVID-19, or if you have had contact in the past 10 days with anyone with confirmed COVID-19 or possible symptoms. as you could be putting others at risk.
Volunteers are asked to bring:
If you cannot work a volunteer shift, there are other ways to support the Jagger Library Recovery:
Thank you for your help.
Communication and Marketing Department
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The Centre for Curating the Archive, in association with Michaelis Galleries (UCT) and UCT Libraries will stage a memorial exhibition marking the one-year anniversary of the tragic Jagger Library fire at the Michaelis Galleries. The exhibition will open to the public on Wednesday, 20 April 2022.
In an email to UCT students, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng said:
“Thank you for your patience as we seek ways to return to full academic activity at the University of Cape Town under COVID-19 regulations. Our first priority is to ensure the health and safety of everyone who needs to return to campus buildings.”
UCT is deeply grateful to all the donors who supplied food and other essential items for our students, and to everyone who has so generously offered other forms of support and assistance.
Everyone who would like to support the #UCTFire emergency relief fund is urged to please make financial donations to UCT through the UCT Alumni Ways to Give web page.
Donations can also be made by EFT using the details below:
Account name: UCT Donations Account
Bank: Standard Bank of South Africa
Branch code: Rondebosch Branch, 025009
Account number: 07 152 2387
Swift code: SBZAZAJJ
Please include your donor name if you so wish, as well as the reference for your donation, e.g. Name Surname, #UCTFire.