If you’re looking to borrow a good book, scroll through historical archives, explore specialised research materials, or simply dive into a surplus of resources, then we’ve got the perfect guide for you. From well-stocked public libraries to those with specialised collections, here’s our guide to some of the top Joburg libraries in and around Gauteng.
Johannesburg City Library
Having closed down in 2020 for renovations, the Johannesburg City Library (JCL) reopened in 2025, with the event coinciding with its 90th birthday. For almost 100 years, the iconic institution has long been a sanctuary for knowledge seekers, earning its place as one of Johannesburg’s oldest and most cherished buildings.
The library houses over 1.5 million items, including a renowned Africana collection, rare books, archival photographs, and historical maps that document Johannesburg’s growth and struggles. Beyond its shelves, the city library has become a vibrant community hub, offering digital literacy workshops, public talks, and art exhibitions. There’s a children’s section that nurtures a love of reading through interactive storytelling sessions, while quiet study areas and rooftop reading terraces provide tranquil spaces for reflection.
When: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Saturday, 9am to 1pm. Closed on Sunday.
Where: Albertina Sisulu Rd &, Pixley Ka Isaka Seme St, Johannesburg
Website: joburg.org.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 492 7071
Sandton Library
Located right in the bustling commercial area of Sandton, the Sandton Library houses over 90 000 books, with three floors of fiction, non-fiction, educational, and historical books, as well as audiobooks, videos, music CDs, and language tapes.
Visitors will also find high-speed wireless internet, daily and weekly newspapers, periodicals, and provincial and government gazettes, and there are even separate sections for children and students, with seating for almost 200 people. What’s more, there are 12 public computers with free internet access for research, assignments, CVs, and digital training, and printing is available.
When: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Where: Nelson Mandela Square, West St, Rivonia Rd, &, Sandton
Website: sandtoncentral.co.za/sandton-library | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 282 2362
Goethe-Institut Library
The Goethe-Institut aims to cultivate international and local cultural exchange through the arts, sciences and languages. With over 100 institutes worldwide, and 14 in the sub-Saharan region, including the one in Johannesburg, the Goethe-Institut is committed to fostering transnational diversity, understanding and trust.
Their Library and Information Department works in partnership with libraries and other institutions involved in book and reading promotion in South Africa and encourages exchanges between information specialists and publishers in South Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and Germany.
Their Sonic Library is a dynamic initiative that reimagines the library as an experimental, participatory space for sound, performance and broadcasting. Building on the library’s longstanding role in archiving knowledge and supporting learning, the Sonic Library expands these possibilities by recognising sound as a vital form of cultural memory and historical record.
The institute also hosts two book clubs, the AFRO-Freedom Book Club and the Silent Book Club. The Silent Book Club invites you to bring any book that you are interested in reading or explore the Goethe library for a title that piques your interest and join your fellow bookworms for a few hours of silent, communal reading. The AFRO-Freedom Book Club is a public gathering that celebrates Afrikan writers, aiming to spark dialogue and civic engagement within the community. This club is a fantastic space for Afro-centric, creative, opinionated, and open-minded individuals, and the meetups take place on the second Wednesday of each month. Anyone can join in, regardless of whether they’ve read the book or not.
When: Monday to Thursday from 2pm to 6pm
Where: Goethe-Institut Johannesburg Library, 119 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkwood, Johannesburg
Randburg Library
Visitors in the Randburg area can head to the suburb’s local library to explore an extensive and carefully curated collection of reading materials.
The shelves are filled with thousands of pieces, including contemporary fiction, historical biographies, and academic journals. The library has a vibrant, colourful space as its children’s section, and it’s also implemented mobile literacy programmes and has various digital educational programmes.
When: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Where: Bram Fischer Dr &, Selkirk Ave, Ferndale, Randburg
Website: cojelearning.org.za/librarie/randburg-library/ | Tel: 011 789 7569
National Library of South Africa – Pretoria
With one campus in Pretoria and the other in Cape Town, the National Library of South Africa (NLSA) is the official custodian of South Africa’s collective national heritage materials and the national depository of published output materials in the country. The NLSA was mandated by the National Library of South Africa Act 92 of 1998 to collect and preserve published documents and make them accessible to all.
The NLSA has two core programmes which are Business Development with sub-programmes that include Bibliographic Services and Collections Management and Preservation and Conservation Services, whereas the Public Engagement Programme is responsible for Information Access Services and the Centre for the Book.
The NLSA contains a wealth of information, including rare manuscripts, books published in South Africa, periodicals, government publications, official foreign publications, maps, technical reports, Africana, and newspapers. As such, the library remains the best place to explore one of South Africa’s most important and extensive research libraries.
When: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8am to 5pm. Wednesday, 9am to 5pm. Closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Where: 228 Johannes Ramokhoase St, Pretoria Central, Pretoria
Website: nlsa.ac.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 012 401 9700
Joburg bookshops to visit
