Wynberg librarian Robert Moult retired at the end of last month, closing the book on a 42-year-long career with the City’s library service.
With his vast general knowledge, Mr Moult, of Penlyn Estate, was considered the go-to-librarian for all obscure queries.
As a job seeker in the early 80s, Mr Moult recalls an interviewer at a mobile oil company telling him with his vast general knowledge, “You are not quite what I am looking for, but I think you’d be very suited to working in the library.” He interviewed with the City three weeks later and started work at Rondebosch library in early 1982.
He has worked at several libraries over the years but says some of his fondest memories are from his time spent at Wynberg, Meadowridge, Observatory and Hanover Park libraries as well as with the mobile libraries.
“I went to the mobile libraries in the late 80s, which was a fascinating post because you worked with a different community every day. Things were a little volatile in Athlone and Mitchell’s Plain those days, and as a librarian, you got involved in some way with all the unrest that was going on at the time.”
Hanover Park required some adjusting. The library is situated near the taxi terminus, an area Mr Moult says is often contested territory between gangs. He came to learn that eerie silence meant that something was on the go. If there was a concern for the library staff’s safety, he’d have to close up and either go home or to another branch. However, his five and a half years of “sticking it out” at Hanover Park library has affirmed that librarians hold importance in the suburb. He is still identified as the “library man” in the streets of Hanover Park, more than a decade later.
“So I worked at quite a variety of branches, but the longest one by far is the one in Wynberg. I came back to Wynberg in early 2011 and stayed there ever since. I must say I had a very wonderful last 13 years at that branch.”
Wynberg’s principal librarian, Nadia Ismail, says with his love for music and film, there isn’t a more passionate librarian than Mr Moult.
“He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of music, film as well as literature, ideal skills for a library like Wynberg with its enormous music collection.”
His eclectic knowledge and ability to remember names, dates and details meant he could weigh in on everything from the latest soccer score to facts on World War II, she says.
“Robert’s wealth of knowledge will be sorely missed by all, but we wish him well with his well-deserved retirement.”
Mayoral committee member for community services and health Patricia van der Ross commended Mr Moult for his many years of service.
“Our librarians are part of the communities they serve and when they retire, we all feel the gap left. Robert was instrumental in starting up a film club at the library, screening unusual films from various eras with an opportunity for the audience to discuss the film afterwards. He will continue with the film club for the next few months, which is a testament to his commitment and dedication to the library and its patrons. I am sure that he will continue to play a valuable role as patron to the library and wish him everything of the best.”
