What are the opening hours?

Monday 09:00 - 18:00 Tuesday 09:00 - 18:00 Wednesday 09:00 - 18:00 Thursday 09:00 - 18:00 Friday 09:00 - 17:00 Saturday 09:00 - 13:00

Central Library, Cape Town

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Central Library, Cape Town

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Central Library in Cape Town's C*D houses five libraries - Main, Art, Children's, Music, and Reference - each boasting notable collections.

In addition, the library offers a spacious SmartCape computer lab with free Wi-Fi, along with more services.

29/10/2026

Dear Patrons

As a result of the taxi unrest, and in the interest of safety, the library will be closing at 4pm today.

We apologise for the inconvenience, and we urge everyone to remain vigilant and stay as safe as possible.

28/10/2026

Hi Library patrons!
The Cape Town Photography Festival Exhibition has just closed and one the photographers featured, Mr Naoya Yoshikawa, has donated two photographic prints and two photobooks, Family Album and Happy Dog to Central Library, for we are exceedingly thankful.

26/10/2026

Central Library team came together today in a sea of pink to honor and support the incredible breast cancer survivors in our community. We stand with you today and everyday during Breast cancer awareness month.

Let’s keep supporting, educating, and making a difference together.

26/10/2026

Welcome to the final week of October 2026!

Pause for a second and take that in: there will never be another October 2026. Once these next few days drift away like wild mountain blooms on a fresh Cape Town breeze, this exact week enters the history books!

No pressure, of course! But why let a completely unique week pass by quietly?

Whether you are looking to lose yourself in a brand-new world, discover a fresh spring hobby, or simply sink into a comfortable spot with a great chapter, Central Library is here to make these final days of the month count.

Come pop in, browse our shelves, return those long-overdue loans, and check out something extraordinary to take home with you. Let us give October 2026 the literary send-off it truly deserves!

22/10/2026

Reflecting on the RE:MAKE Festival!

It is hard to believe it has already been almost a week since the last stitch was sewn and the final item was repaired, and staff here at Central Library are still talking about the incredible impact of the event.

From upcycled musical instruments to visible mending, furniture repairs, and clothing swaps, our community proved that small fixes truly lead to big changes.

An unforgettable event like this would not have been possible without our wonderful partners. A massive thank you to Make-a-thek Cape Town, Fab City Global Initiative Cape Town, Fashion Revolution - South Africa, Friends of Central Library (FOCAL), Menzi Design Laboratory, Global Innovation Gathering, and Zlto for bringing such amazing energy, skills, and collaboration to our library floor.

Seeing the spark of creativity and community connection has planted a wonderful seed—while nothing is set in stone just yet, we certainly have high hopes and are exploring the possibility of making the RE:MAKE Festival a recurring highlight on our calendar!

Long live our stuff, long live our community, and thank you for being part of this journey with us.

21/10/2026

Upcoming Event: Meet inspiring teen author Giovanni Samson at Central Library!

Cape Town Central Library presents an exciting book launch and talk with local teen author, Giovanni Samson!

Join us as this young hero shares his inspiring story, writing journey, and published works, including The Unseen on Thames Avenue, Beyond What I See, and Beyond My Struggles.

This is a wonderful opportunity for young aspiring writers, youth, and book lovers to connect with a talented local voice and get inspired!

Event Details:
Saturday, 31 October 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Central Library Arena

RSVP / Enquiries: [email protected] / (021) 444 0209

E-books will be available for purchase at the event, facilitated by the Friends of Central Library (FOCAL).

Mark your calendars, RSVP to secure your spot, and come support our young local talent!

20/10/2026

Another local author on our shelf👏

Thank you to Tamsyn Alfino for donating her books to Central Library📚

17/10/2026

Happy International Repair Day! It is Day 6 and the final day of our RE:MAKE Festival!

We have officially reached the grand finale of our festival, and what a fantastic week it has been! Today we join communities around the globe to celebrate International Repair Day right here on the library floor.

We wanted to end the festival with a bang... but since everything here gets properly fixed and mended, there will strictly be no bangs happening today!

Our dedicated volunteers are already on site from 9:00 AM, ready to help you repair your items, learn practical fixes, and share handy DIY skills.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY:
• Focus: RE:PAIR DAY (Bring 1–2 household or personal items per person to be fixed!)
• Volunteers On Site: From 9:00 AM
• Venue: Cape Town Central Library

MORE CRAFTING AND CLOTHING SWAPS:
The sustainability journey does not stop here! Our wonderful partners from Fashion Revolution - South Africawill be hosting even more crafting workshops to keep your creative momentum going, alongside an additional day of the Clothes swap so you can continue refreshing your wardrobe sustainably!

EARN ZLTO CREDITS TODAY: You can still earn Zlto credits by taking part in repair tasks and helping out around the space.

Bring along an item that needs a bit of love, learn a new skill, and help us close out an incredible week of community upcycling and sustainable living!

Small fixes lead to big changes. Let's make this final day one to remember!

15/10/2026

RE:MAKE FESTIVAL Day 5: RE:WARDROBE is tomorrow!

Get your pre-loved clothes ready! Tomorrow, Friday 16 October 2026, we are taking sustainable fashion to the next level with our community RE:WARDROBE day at Cape Town Central Library!

Whether you want to refresh your wardrobe sustainably or learn how to care for the clothes you already own, we have a full afternoon planned.

WHAT TO EXPECT TOMORROW:

Community Clothing Swap: Swap items you no longer wear for something new-to-you!
• Visible Mending Workshop: Learn creative stitching and repair techniques to give your favourite garments a second life.
• Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
• Venue: Cape Town Central Library
HOW THE CLOTHING SWAP WORKS:

1. Bring up to 10 items: Bring up to 10 clean pre-loved clothing items or accessories to exchange.
2. Quality check: Items must be clean and in good condition with no holes, tears, or stains (items will be checked on arrival).
3. Earn tokens: You will receive 1 token per accepted item.
4. Swap & share: Use your tokens to pick out new-to-you pieces to take home!
Clear out your wardrobe, gather your pre-loved pieces, and join us for an afternoon of swapping, mending, and sustainable style!

Address

1 Parade Street
Cape Town
8001

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 18:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 18:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 18:00
Thursday	09:00 - 18:00
Friday	09:00 - 17:00
Saturday	09:00 - 13:00

Website

https://opac.capetown.gov.za/client/en_US/a/?dt=list

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