In the heart of downtown Johannesburg, a beloved institution is turning 90 — and after a long period of silence, it’s ready to come alive once more.

The Johannesburg City Library, first opened in 1935, has long been regarded as more than just a place to borrow books. It’s a cultural cornerstone and civic sanctuary — “the heart of the city,” as Katherine Munro of the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation puts it.

“This is a library that has served Johannesburg in all sorts of ways,” says Munro.
“It still serves that function — and we want to see it come alive again.”

The original City Library in 1935. Photo: Wikipedia

Cover photo: cojelearning.org.za

Closed since 2020, the library is finally reopening its doors in full, following years of public protest and passionate advocacy. The milestone also marks the unveiling of two historic blue plaques — one honouring the library itself, and another dedicated to Anna H. Smith, the pioneering librarian and author of Johannesburg Street Names.

“Here is an excellent example of civic society standing up for its rights,” says Munro.
“You can’t do without a library.”

Built in 1935, just ahead of the city’s 50th anniversary, the library was a bold civic project that helped cement Joburg’s status as a maturing metropolis. Architect John Perry, inspired by the JP Morgan Library in New York, won a national competition to design the space — now considered one of the city’s architectural gems.

The library also houses a number of specialist collections, including the Strange Collection of African research, the McKailas Art Collection, and the Seymour Collection focused on mining and minerals.

“People arrive to study, to research, to explore, to discover the essence and the heart of the city,” says Munro.

Perhaps most remarkably, the library opened its doors to all races during the apartheid era — offering a rare public space where knowledge was shared freely and equally.

“Many people acquired their first steps up the education ladder by accessing reference materials here,” Munro recalls.

The library even hosted a theatre and a public speaking union — a place where children could find their voice and future leaders were shaped.

As the doors reopen on 11 August, the Joburg City Library begins a new chapter — not just as a place of learning, but as a living symbol of civic pride.

“It is a public resource. It is a place of fascination and wonder,” says Munro.