In an era where almost everything comes with a price tag, Johannesburg’s public libraries remain one of the few places where knowledge, community and opportunity are still free. As a petition to restore Saturday library hours gains momentum, it raises a bigger question: what role do libraries play in modern city life?
There was a time when the local library was simply where you borrowed books.
Today, it’s where a matric learner prints an assignment because there’s no printer at home. It’s where a parent introduces a child to reading without spending hundreds of rand at a bookstore. It’s where a job seeker updates a CV using free Wi-Fi, where pensioners attend book clubs and where young people find one of the few places they can exist without being expected to buy something.
That is why a growing petition to bring back Saturday library hours in Johannesburg is resonating with so many residents.
The Friends of the Johannesburg Public Libraries NPC, alongside the Joburg Crisis Alliance and the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation, has launched a public petition calling on the City of Johannesburg to restore Saturday operating hours, arguing that weekday-only access excludes many of the people who rely on libraries the most.
For Zara Natali, chair of the Friends of the Johannesburg Public Libraries NPC, the conversation is about far more than unlocking library doors.
“Libraries are more than resource centres. They are one of the few free, non-commercial environments that are accessible to all,” Natali said.
The weekend isn’t a luxury — it’s when life happens
For many Johannesburg families, Saturdays are when life slows down just enough to catch up.
It’s when parents can finally take their children somewhere educational, when students can study without the distractions of school, and when people working full-time have the chance to access services that are unavailable while they’re at work.
Natali says losing Saturday access has disproportionately affected working-class families.
“Because of their financial situation, many people cannot afford to purchase books and computers and to have access to the internet. They rely on public libraries for this. They are being deprived of having access to personal recreational reading material, to connect with others and to participate in community programmes in a safe and supportive environment.”
For many households, the library isn’t just a place to borrow books; it’s an affordable source of internet access, educational resources and a welcoming community space.
One of the last free public spaces
Urban planners often speak about the importance of a “third place” – somewhere that isn’t home or work, where people can gather, learn, or simply spend time.
Coffee shops can offer that, but only if you can afford the coffee.
Shopping malls provide shelter, but they’re built around spending.
Libraries are different. They ask for nothing except that you walk through the door.
Natali says keeping libraries closed on Saturdays removes one of Johannesburg’s few genuinely inclusive public spaces.
“If the library doors remain closed on Saturdays, many young people are deprived of the few free, safe and quiet spaces to learn and study, to have access to educational materials and to participate in the free reading programmes.”
For some young people, that means nowhere quiet to prepare for exams. For others, it means missing out on reading clubs, computer classes or simply having a safe environment to spend time.
Literacy starts long before the classroom
The campaign warns that the long-term consequences of Saturday closures extend beyond a missed library visit.
Parents who work during the week often rely on weekends to take their children to story sessions and borrow books to continue reading at home.
“By closing libraries on Saturdays, many young people are being excluded from having access to books which they can take home to read and to study and to learn from at their leisure,” Natali said.
She believes early childhood literacy is particularly at risk.
“It is especially important for small children who are learning to read to attend the library’s reading programmes, but most important to be able to borrow age-appropriate books for their parents to assist them at home to develop their reading skills.”
According to Natali, the impact can last well into adulthood.
“If people are illiterate or if they cannot read for meaning, they will find that in this day and age they will have limited opportunities in the workplace.”
She added that adults also rely on libraries to access reading material, attend book talks and improve their digital literacy through free computer programmes.
Why are Joburg’s libraries closed on Saturdays?
According to Natali, the closures followed changes to library staff working arrangements.
“As far as we know, this was a mayoral decision to change the library staff’s working hours from 40 hours per week over six days to 40 hours per week over five days. This decision has resulted in the closure of Johannesburg’s libraries on Saturdays.”
She said libraries previously operated using a shift system that allowed staff to alternate weekends while keeping branches open on Saturdays.
“If they had left the status quo that worked well in the past, this would never have happened. Therefore, the Council and the Mayoral Committee led by the Mayor must be held accountable.”
Natali said the campaign has engaged with the City’s library department but has not yet formally presented the petition to the municipality because it is still gathering public support.
Politics, budgets and priorities
Asked whether the issue reflects a lack of political will or a lack of resources, Natali said she believes both are contributing factors.
“We think it’s both. It’s a lack of political will as libraries are not regarded as an essential service. It is also due to budget constraints as we believe that vacant posts cannot be filled and there are insufficient members of staff to cover the shifts.”
She acknowledged that without adequate staffing, reopening libraries on Saturdays would be difficult, but argued that libraries should be treated as essential community infrastructure.
A city-wide issue
While some may assume the closures mainly affect students, Natali says every part of Johannesburg has felt the impact.
Working adults, learners, elderly residents, people living with disabilities, unemployed job seekers and families in under-resourced communities all depend on library services.
She said other metropolitan municipalities across South Africa continue to operate libraries on Saturdays through different staffing arrangements, showing that weekend access is achievable.
If budget constraints meant only a handful of libraries could reopen initially, the organisation believes branches in Jabavu, Orange Farm, Florida, Sandton and the Johannesburg City Library should be prioritised because of their reach and accessibility.
More than opening doors
The campaign to restore Saturday library hours is ultimately about more than changing operating schedules.
It asks what kind of city Johannesburg wants to be.
One where access to books, internet, study spaces and community depends on your work schedule.
Or one where everyone, regardless of age, income or postcode, can spend a Saturday reading with their children, preparing for exams, learning a new skill or simply enjoying one of the few public spaces that asks for nothing in return.
As Natali puts it, “Libraries are more than resource centres. They are one of the few free, non-commercial environments that are accessible to all.”
In 2026, that may be exactly why they matter more than ever.
