City of Johannesburg Library and Information Services

City of Johannesburg Library and Information Services (CoJ LIS) is the public library system of the City of Johannesburg metropolitan government in Gauteng, South Africa. It oversees about 90 public branch libraries across seven administrative regions (A–G), serving the city's roughly 6.5 million residents. CoJ LIS is part of the city's Community Development cluster and aims to support literacy, lifelong learning and digital access for all Johannesburg communities.

City of Johannesburg Library and Information Services


26°11′47″S 28°01′15″E / 26.19651072125009°S 28.020844264737278°E
Location	22 Solomon St, Vrededorp, Johannesburg, 2001
Established	1890; 135 years ago (1890)
Other information
Director	Nobuntu Mpendulo
Website	Official website

History

The Johannesburg public library tradition dates to the early 1890s. Shortly after Johannesburg was founded (1886), a volunteer library committee secured premises and appointed the first librarian in 1890s. As the town grew, the Johannesburg Town Council took control of the library in 1924 and planned a major new building. The landmark Italianate Johannesburg City Library (JCL) building on Market Square was completed in 1935. During the apartheid era the system expanded separate branches (including the first Soweto branch in 1937), and in 1974 the main Johannesburg Public Library became the first South African public library to admit Black and Coloured members.

After the end of apartheid and the 1990s reorganisation of local government, the Johannesburg library service was unified. In 2006 the City of Johannesburg restructured libraries into seven regions (Regions A–G) to ensure equal access across the metro. The Johannesburg City Library (the central heritage branch) was closed in April 2009 for an extensive R68-million renovation. It officially reopened in February 2012 as a modernised "21st-century model city library". More recently, the central library was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and remained closed for five years for further work. The library partially reopened in March 2025 (first floor only) with the children's library and the historic collection (1.5 million volumes) again available to the public. The Mayor committed to opening all floors open by June 2025.

Services

CoJ LIS offers a full range of library services to all ages. Key services include:

Lending and collections

All branch libraries provide free lending of printed materials (books, magazines) and reference assistance. Many also lend DVDs, audiobooks and have in-library music collections. Some branches list "Lending services (print and online)" and dedicated study spaces. The system maintains tens of thousands of titles and digital resources. Registered members can also borrow e-books and audiobooks through the OverDrive platform, accessible 24/7 on personal devices.

eLearning & Digital Literacy

CoJ Library and Information Services runs ICT-based eLearning programmes to support its core initiatives.

Mobile Literacy: introduces users (including children) to productive uses of mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops); accessing e-books, apps, writing stories, gamified digital activities (e.g., treasure hunts, coding games).
Mobi-Readathon: a reading development initiative where high school learners read on mobile devices using platforms like FunDza.mobi; supports reading and digital engagement.
Coding Programmes: libraries host after-school / holiday coding classes, competitions, and collaborate with NGOs / corporates for digital skills training.

Digital access

Libraries provide free internet and computer access. Most branches offer free Wi-Fi and public computers as part of the "eLearning" programme. For example, Noordgesig Library (revamped 2021) provides unlimited free Wi-Fi to patrons and an e-classroom for digital skills training. CoJ LIS also runs other ICT literacy programs to bridge the digital divide.

Educational and reading programs

CoJ LIS libraries run numerous literacy and enrichment programs. There are several city-wide reading and developmental programme:

Story Skirmish: inter-school knockout quiz for younger readers (Grades 4–5), designed to boost reading comprehension and enjoyment.
Battle of the Books: similar quiz for Grades 6–7, focused on reading development and comprehension.
Ready to Read!: targets early childhood (day-care centres, crèches, nursery schools) to build pre-literacy skills; books are issued monthly to early childhood development (ECD) centres.
Indigenous Reading Development Programme: supports Grade 1–3 learners in their mother tongue; fosters respect for indigenous languages and lifelong reading.
Science Scuffle: an inter-school science quiz (Grades 6 & 7) using STEM collections in libraries; promotes information-literacy / research skills.

There are also reading clubs, story hours, homework assistance and youth contests, teen book clubs and holiday education events. Libraries often partner with schools and community groups to promote reading and learning.

Community / life-skills programmes

Holiday programmes: scheduled activities during school holidays, offering free learning & reading experiences for children across age-groups, especially in disadvantaged communities.
Story Times: regular sessions in libraries (and via digital platforms like Facebook) for very young children; includes storytelling, orientation, games linked to stories.
Information Literacy: structured library orientation and reference-education sessions, often tailored to groups (children, youth) to teach library use, research, and information navigation.
Study, Reference & Research Support: support service for learners of all ages, assisting with school projects, reference queries, internet-based research.
Homework Assistance: daily or as-needed help for children (including vulnerable children) to complete homework or school projects.
Business Workshops / Information Support: targeting women and youth; small business workshops delivered in partnership with banks, educational institutions, local businesses.
Youth Life Skills: libraries offer CV-writing, job interview skills, study-skills workshops, etc.
Book Talks & Authors: some branches host talks with authors, reading circles / book clubs, often in partnership with “Friends of the Library.”

Community outreach

Beyond branches, CoJ LIS provides outreach services to underserved areas. Mobile library vehicles and satellite centres (sometimes called "Bookmobiles") travel to informal settlements and remote townships. Outreach staff deliver books and run pop-up reading sessions at community centers, schools or clinics. CoJ LIS also hosts events like career expos and healthy living workshops to engage residents. (For example, Orange Farm Library has hosted career days and business skills workshops in partnership with local NGOs.

Technology and innovation

In line with the city's "Smart City" vision, CoJ LIS has adopted innovative services. Since 2016, an eLearning division has spearheaded tech integration: installing free Wi-Fi throughout libraries, adding tablet and laptop lending, and launching cojelearning.org.za (a mobile-friendly portal for learners). SirsiDynix is the new integrated library system which allows unified catalogs across branches. Some modern branches (e.g. Paterson Park) are planned to include makerspaces and high-tech labs for coding and 3D design. Overall, Johannesburg libraries emphasise digital literacy and adapt to emerging tech to make libraries "community-centered smart hubs".

Library network and list of libraries

CoJ LIS currently operates roughly 90 branch libraries across the city's seven regions. The flagship Johannesburg City Library (Market Square) is a historic neoclassical building opened in 1935. It holds over 1.5 million volumes (books, newspapers and archives). After a major renovation it reopened in 2012, and as of 2025 its first floor is once again serving the public.

List of libraries in CoJ LIS

Alexandra 3rd Ave Public Library
Alexandra 8th Ave Library
Blackheath Library
Boskruin Library
Bosmont Public Library
Bramfischerville Library
Brixton Library
Bryanston Library
Coronationville Library
Cosmo City Library
Diepkloof Zone 1 Library
Diepkloof Zone 5 Library
Diepsloot Library
Dreizik Library
Dobsonville Library
Coronationville Public Library
Cosmo City Library
Eldorado Park Ext. 2 Library
Eldorado Park Ext. 5 Library
Emmarentia Library
Emndeni Library
Ennerdale Ext 1 Library
Ennerdale Ext 9 Library
Freedom Park Library
Glenanda Library
Florida Library
Halfway House Library
Hillbrow Library
Horizon View Library
Ivory Park Library
Ivory Park North Library
Jabavu Library
JCL African Studies
JCL Art Gallery
JCL Art Library
JCL Children's Book Collection
JCL Lending
JCL Multimedia Library
JCL Performing Arts
Johannesburg Art Gallery
Johannesburg City Library
Johannesburg Museum Africa
JHB Hector Peterson Library
Killarney Library
Klipfontein View Library
Klipspruit Children's Library
Klipspruit West Library
Lehae Library
Lenasia Ext. 3 Library
Lenasia South Library
Leondale Library
Linbro Park Library
Linden Library
Malvern Library
Mamelodi West Library
Mayfair Library
Meadowlands Library
Melville Public Library
Mofolo Library
Murray Park Library
Newlands Library
Noordgesig Library
Norwood Library
Olifantsfontein Library
Olivedale Library
Orange Farm Library
Orange Grove Reference Library
Orlando East Public Library
Parkhurst Public Library
Parkview Library
Paterson Park Library
Phiri Library
Phomolong Library
Pimville Library
Poortjie Library
Prison JHB Female
Prison JHB Maximum
Prison JHB Medium
Prison Leeukop Medium A Library
Prison Leeukop Medium B Library
Prison Leeukop Maximum Library
Prison Leeukop Youth
Protea North Library
Protea Glen Library
Rabie Ridge Library
Randburg Library
Rhodes Park Library
Riverlea Library
River Park Library
Rivonia Library
Roodepoort Library
Rosebank Public Library
Rosettenville Public Library
Sandringham Library
Sandton Public Library
Sandown Library
Satellite Services Libraries
Satellite Bram Fischerville
Satellite Chris Hani Hos
Satellite Alexan Kopano
Satellite AT Leratong
Satellite Pennyville
Satellite Slovoville
Sandringham Library
Savoy Library
Slovoville Library
Southdale Library
South Hills Library
Strubensvalley Library
Tshepisong Library
Vanderbijlpark Public Library
Vlakfontein Library
Weltevredenpark Public Library
Westbury Library
Wilro Park Library
Witpoortjie Library
Yeoville Library

Each branch caters to local needs but is linked by a unified system and online catalog. Collectively, Johannesburg's library network provides free educational resources, information access and digital services citywide.