More than R1 million in overdue library items returned

03 October 2025

A novel about loss is no longer lost after it was returned to the Fish Hoek Library six years later during the last Fine Free Week. More than 9 000 overdue items were returned to City libraries during the first week in September.

‘Our third Fine Free Week for the year saw 9 105 items returned, valued at just more than R1,14 million. These opportunities to return overdue items without a fine continue to be popular and we are grateful to everyone who brought back their items. I want to encourage patrons to return items on time, so we can all share in the adventures and magic,' said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.

During the previous two amnesty periods, more than R1,3 million worth of library items were returned.

The most overdue item, Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, is a book about loss set in Tokyo in the late 1960s, and had been taken out on 3 October 2019 from the Fishhoek Library.

The library is also fourth on the list of those that had the most outstanding items returned.

‘We need items to be returned timeously, so everyone can have access to them. Prompt returns also support the library's function as a community resource for reading, learning, and exam preparation,’ added Councillor Higham.
Individual libraries are responsible for their selections and the focus is on children and teen materials that reflect the diversity of the city as well as the latest and best in publications.
Selections also serve to support departmental projects such as the 1 000 Stories Before School, coding and chess Clubs, among others.
Allocation of these materials is based on the needs expressed by librarians as well as knowledge of their collections, the gaps within the collections and the need to enhance collections.

Libraries with most overdue item returns are:

Registered library members can access the City’s digital offerings by visiting e-resources (capetown.gov.za). eBooks and audio books are available to access or download via the Overdrive Digital Platform or the Libby App on smart devices.

Access to more than 7,000 local and international newspapers and magazines are available to access or download via the PressReader platform OR app.

Access the online catalogue at opac.capetown.gov.za.

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office