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JOHANNESBURG opened its first city-operated libraries in 1924. Originally operating as traditional book-lending operations, the libraries later extended their facilities to include a wider range of information related services. When the unicity came into being, it was decided to change the name to the City of Johannesburg Library and Information Service (CJLIS).
BESIDES books, Johannesburg's libraries offer magazines and audio-visual material. Children especially are catered for, with reading programmes and story hours included among other services. Information is provided on the availability of reading matter and its suitability. Special packages are put together for school projects. In addition, study areas are available, and further educational services are provided with exhibitions, lectures and talks. Literacy tuition is offered and mobile library services operate in remote areas. There are also plans to increase library coverage of disadvantaged areas: tenders are already out for the building of a new library at Orange Farm at a cost of approximately R550 000.
THE CJLIS aims to provide access and exposure to library and information services so that a culture of reading and learning is promoted. Children have been earmarked for special attention. The aim is to have comprehensive children's services in five libraries in disadvantaged areas. Also by that time, there will be a plan to implement children's services in a further five libraries by the following year. Book allocation in disadvantaged areas has also been identified as an area that needs to be improved. The aim is to supply more books, with more relevance to disadvantaged communities, taking into consideration the needs of the community.
What facilities does the Johannesburg Public Library have? The Central Library Building is located on Market Square, to the west of the City Hall. It includes the Central Lending Library, Reference Library, Children's Library, the Harold Strange Library of African Studies, the Children's Book Collection, the Michaelis Art Library, the Music Library and a Newspaper Reading Room. A Multimedia Library provides educational and film material. The Central Lending Library is open from Monday to Friday between 10am and 5pm, and on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. The Reference Library's hours are from 9am to 5pm on weekdays, and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. What sponsored projects is the CJLIS involved in? THE CJLIS presents a number of programmes in partnership with companies. The CJLIS is helping to make people computer-literate with the aid of sponsorship from Microsoft and Hewlett Packard, which includes computers, servers, printers and software. A budget has been approved and the project should be in operation in the near future. The "Want to Read Project" sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation is aimed at developing a culture of reading in primary schools. The project includes the "Story Skirmish", an inter-school knockout quiz for second-language English speakers in standards two and three in the greater Johannesburg area. The Carnegie sponsorship also allows the CJLIS to train five young librarians over a three-year period De Beers sponsors a similar quiz, called "Battle of the Books", for children in grades six and seven. At present it involves 48 schools in the greater Johannesburg area. The knockout quiz focuses on set books, half of which are South African. The aim is to bring about interaction between children, schools and libraries. Heinemann Publishers, Oxford University Press and Exclusive Books sponsor the prizes. A mobile library targeting primary schools is sponsored by Unifoods. What special services are provided by the CJLIS? THE CJLIS has a travelling library, known as a bibliobus, which visits suburbs that do not have their own branch libraries. Information regarding the schedule of the bibliobus can be obtained from the Central Library or by phoning 837-8631/2. The mobile library is used to target informal settlements and has proved very successful. Special services are also provided for people in hospital or those confined to their homes. Further information can be obtained on 011 837 8631/2. What hours are the various libraries open? NOT all libraries keep the same hours. To find out what hours a specific library is open, consult the list of libraries below or call 011 837 8631/2. Do I have to pay to use library services? YES, at present a membership fee of R30 per annum is charged. However, research is being done into alternatives so that the entire population of Johannesburg is served equally well. Our complete list of libraries provides contact details and opening hours:
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