City Libraries announce Fine-Free Week for young readers

Books by the beloved children’s author Jeff Kinney, author of the Wimpy Kid series, are the books that public library patrons tend to forget to hand in on time.

Now City Libraries have announced a fine free week for patrons up to the age of 17 during the week of Monday,  30 June – Saturday, 5 July 2025. The amnesty applies at every City of Cape Town public library. Patrons may return the items to any library, regardless of where they were borrowed.

‘The Fine Free week during the school holiday is a wonderful opportunity for young readers to return books and to enjoy the many activities at libraries. It is also an opportunity for learners to join and become a member at their nearest library.

“Our libraries are popular knowledge centres to visit with family and friends and we sincerely hope that late items will be returned so that other patrons and new members also have an opportunity to enjoy a returned item. Let us all support this initiative to return library material to the shelves where they belong,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health,  Francine Higham.

Items that are covered during the amnesty week include all overdue children’s and young adult books, comics, audiobooks, magazines, DVDs and CDs.

It should be noted that replacement fees for lost or damaged items will still apply with only late-return fines that are waived.

The aim of the Fine Free week is to provide young readers with a clean borrowing slate for the new term.

Below is a list of the top 10  books outstanding (children and young adult books): The deep end / by Jeff Kinney (29 copies outstanding); Wrecking ball / by Jeff Kinney (29 copies outstanding); The getaway / by Jeff Kinney (26 copies outstanding); Big shot / Jeff Kinney (23 copies outstanding); Double down / by Jeff Kinney (23 copies outstanding); The meltdown / by Jeff Kinney (23 copies outstanding); Peppa loves reading / adapted by Lauren Holowaty (20 copies); Hard luck / by Jeff Kinney (19 copies);  Cinderella (17 copies outstanding);  Boy-crazy Stacey: a graphic novel / by Gale Galligan (15 copies outstanding)

To make the week more interesting, library personnel will pair the amnesty with indoor holiday activities, such as anime drawing workshops, coding boot camps, chess tournaments and mobile science centre visits.

The previous Fine Free week which took place during the South African Library Week (17 to 23 March 2025), saw 13 178 library items returned.

Residents are invited to join one of the 102 libraries across the metropole.

To join a library, visit your nearest facility today. Once registered, you’ll be able to check out your first batch of books on the same day.

For more detail on how to become a member please visit: https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Register/Information-and-learning/Register-for-a-City-library-membership