The library is located in the heart of Johannesburg and houses over 1.5 million books and special collections.
The Johannesburg Heritage Foundation (JHF) has called on the city council and the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) to reopen the metro's main public library, which closed four years ago, if its calls go unheeded. He said he would take legal action.
The foundation plans to hold a protest on this issue on May 18th.
The library closed to the public in March 2020 due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, and a preliminary status report later revealed major structural issues, including a leaking roof. As a result, it was announced in May 2021 that it would remain closed indefinitely.
The library is located in the heart of Johannesburg and houses over 1.5 million books, as well as special collections such as the Harold Strange African Studies Collection of Africana, the Michaelis Art Collection, the Performing Arts Collection, Newspapers, and Paintings Collections. . , a collection of children's books.
There are also 140 computer workstations with free Wi-Fi.
JHF founder Flo Bird said: email and guardian She said she had been personally asking for the library to resume services since September 2022.
“The Johannesburg Heritage Foundation took up this issue in September 2023 and initially worked with the authorities on a phased reopening,” Bird said.
“When scaffolding was recently erected without any message to our support group, we realized that cooperation was not working. At that time we had no choice but to stage a mass protest. I decided I had no choice.”
Mr Bird said the foundation had received a report commissioned by the Johannesburg Development Authority from a site visit carried out by MAP Africa Engineers in March 2024, which found the building to be structurally sound.
City of Johannesburg spokesperson Ntatisi Modingoane said the council was aware of concerns about library closures, but reiterated the need to ensure the safety of both staff and library users.
“Before a library can be opened to the public, all legal compliances related to the Emergency Management Services Bylaw and the National Building Regulations must be completed and as such before the building is deemed safe for occupancy and use. It's important to note that you need to be certified for use,'' Modingoan said.
The JHF said in a statement that the expected reopening date is said to be sometime in the 2025 financial year and that repairs are expected to cost more than R100 million.
Bird said libraries are essential facilities, not luxuries.
“In a country with alarming illiteracy and widespread poverty, this facility is free. It is nonsense to think of it as a luxury. Just like when your water or electricity is cut off, you can use it again. It takes effort.”
JHF expressed concern only about the library's critical fire suppression system, which was installed in 2012 but is not yet operational.
“This must be done with extreme urgency and should only take a few months to complete, after which the library can safely reopen to the public,” the group said in a statement, adding that part of the roof has been repaired. However, even if a leak were to occur, there would be no immediate safety risk to library users.
“I think the JDA and facility management have decided it's safe now that librarians and support staff are working in the building again,” Byrd said.
Mr Modingoan said the city council was aware that a protest was being planned, although the foundation claimed the protest was to raise awareness about the importance of free public facilities. , reiterated that the library still needs further restoration work.
He said: “Significant work is still required to bring the building into compliance with safety regulations, which will be carried out through a multi-year budget allocation.”
The city has made library resources available to people through links. [email protected]