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 (AâÂÂG), 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.
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 AâÂÂG) 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 (1.5â¯million volumes) again available to the public. The Mayor committed to opening all floors open by June 2025.
CoJ LIS offers a full range of library services to all ages. Key services include:
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.
CoJ Library and Information Services runs ICT-based eLearning programmes to support its core initiatives.
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.
CoJ LIS libraries run numerous literacy and enrichment programs. There are several city-wide reading and developmental programme:
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.
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.
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".
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 1.5â¯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.
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.