The Library opened its doors to the Public in 1890, operating from several short-lived spaces provided, until a site was acquired in Kerk Street where it would stay for 40 Years. The first Building, a corrugated iron structure, was replaced by a new structure in 1898. In 1923 the subscribers agreed to cede the Library to the Johannesburg Town Council, and it became a free lending Library. A new Building was erected, READ IN FURTHER READ on the Market Square site – completed in 1935. The Library closed for renovations (2009) and re-opened in 2012. For five Years it has been closed due to leaks and it had major fire risks! (READ IN FURTHER READING, FOR LINK ON MORE INFORMATION ON THIS!) The Library is Now Open, since August 2025!
The Johannesburg Public Library, is based in the City Centre, in Market Street. It has over 1.5-Million books in its collection and more than 250 000 members. Also on the premises are a number of specialist Libraries: Central Reference Library: Children’s Library; Michaelis Art Library; Multimedia Library; Music Library; Harold Strange Library of African Studies; Newspaper Reading Room; Cybase Centre and a Reference Library. The Central Lending Library is open from Monday to Friday between 10am and 5pm, and on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. The Reference Library's hours are from 9am to 5pm on weekdays, and from9am to 1pm on Saturdays. Apart from the Main Library in the centre of the City, there are many other Libraries in the Suburbs. There is also an Urban Resource Centre (previously the Local Government Library) located on the 12th floor of the Metro Centre in Braamfontein.
Joining a Library- All residents are welcome to join their Local Library. You need to present your Identity Book, with Proof of Residence. Children will also need to show their birth certificates.Cards will be issued by the libraries. Those applying for the first time will have to wait for five working days for their documents to be processed. For those wishing to take four or less books at any one time, membership is free. For those wanting to take more than four books, it will cost R30 per Year for Membership.
Library and Information- The core business of library and information services includes:Collection; Development and Management (including bibliographic management). Provision of safe and free, with guided access to knowledge and information (including online access to library and other information resources). Development, promotion and maintenance of a reading culture through the delivering of programmes. Ongoing research, planning, monitoring and evaluation to improve service delivery. The Library and information services also offer a Satellite Library Service to those communities with no access to a library service. The aim of the service is to increase and promote access to library services by providing suitable loan collections of books at designated areas. While the emphasis is on the elderly and the youth, this is not exclusive and other communities, for example, prisons are also serviced by satellite services.
Strategic objective- The aim of Libraries and information services is to provide access and exposure so that a culture of reading and learning is promoted. Literacy is something that has a positive effect throughout South African society and has been identified as being of particular importance. Children have been earmarked for special attention. The aim is to have comprehensive children’s services in all Libraries in disadvantaged Areas!
