The library is situated in the Durban City Hall, which opened in 1910. The story of the Durban library began in 1850, fifteen years after the town was founded. A few private individuals headed by Mr C Hicks and Mr E Lamport formed a small library but due to disinterest this project failed. A second attempt to found a “Durban Commercial and Literary Institute’ in 1851 also failed. On 1 September 1853 a public meeting decided on the establishment of the “Durban Mechanics Institute”. A committee was formed, premises secured and an attendant was appointed at a salary of ₤1 per month. The Institute was supported by members’ subscriptions and augmented by several private benefactors and a government grant of 50 pounds. Soon afterwards the government donated ₤30 and the town council donated a piece of land in the Market Square. The first librarian was Mr John Milne. Membership and funds grew steadily and in 1879 a new building was opened and renamed “The Durban Public Library and Reading Room”. In 1890 the library premises were extended and electric light was installed. In 1901 a new wing was added at the cost of the city council and the government grant was raised to ₤250. In 1910 the library was finally brought under the management of the Borough of Durban and became known as the Durban Municipal Library. The town council set aside accommodation for the library in the newly erected municipal buildings, and on 3 October 1911 the formal opening of the Durban Municipal Library took place.
