Observatory Library marks 128 years as a community icon
20 March 2026
The impressive milestone coincides with South African Library Week and while 128 is a ripe old age, Observatory Library is one of several ‘grand old dames’ in the City’s Library and Information Service.
The library was originally known as the Observatory Road Public Reading Room, and was located in temporary premises on the corner of Drake and Station Roads.
Resident Stephan Trill donated land for the construction of a library, which opened to the public on 29 March 1906.
On 1 March 1954, the library was incorporated into the Cape Town City Library Service, a free municipal library service.
‘This is a special milestone for Observatory Library. It’s not only a historic building, but a popular and longstanding community hub. The library offers many programmes for young and old, and I want to encourage our residents to join these events and discover for themselves what a special place it is,’ said City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.
CURRENT PROGRAMMES AND OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE AT THE LIBRARY:
Story time
Pram Jam Story & Rhyme time with the nannies, parents, grandparents and babies/toddlers every Wednesday morning from 10:30 – 11:00
Preschool Story time for ages 2 to 6 years old, where learning is made fun through stories, rhymes and crafts
Youth programmes
Information Literacy: “Book-a-Librarian” – where a learner can book a librarian for assistance for a school/fun project on Tuesday or Thursday afternoons. The learner and/or accompanied parent/guardian is taught information literacy skills – research skills – and assisted in finding the information
Reading Programmes: the library promotes two reading campaigns for different age groups: 1) 1000 stories before school for ages 0 to six years; 2) Achieve 3 000 minutes for ages seven years and older. Participants receive small incentives when they reach their reading milestones
Adult programmes
Obz’ Wise Library Seniors (The OWLS): is the social senior club that meets every Tuesday afternoon at 14:30 – 16:00. They socialise and participate in library activities such as dancing, crafts and chair yoga
Fountain House Readers and Makers Hub is a special wellbeing programme developed for the members of Fountain House (associated with Cape Mental Health). They meet fortnightly on Thursdays at the library. This programme has been running for the past three years
Obz Book Club: members meet on the first Friday of the month at the library. They discuss and engage around the books they read and their favourite authors. The club has been in existence for more than 10 years
Digital Literacy: computer classes given on request. It is for beginners learning how to use a keyboard and mouse, opening an email account for the first time and learning how to use it
Author meet and greets/talks: at least twice a quarter, an author is invited to the library to promote their book titles. These events are held either on a Tuesday afternoon or Saturday morning
New programmes are being planned, including chess, coding and knitting clubs, and once details are finalised, these will be announced via the library’s social media pages.
Caption 1: In front of the library are staff members from left Nomncedisi Brenda Joyi (library aid), Jacqueline Rossouw (librarian), Cleolaine Delmore (librarian in charge), Dawn Kindo and Merle Lubinsky (senior library assistants).
Caption 2: At the library’s birthday celebrations were librarians, members of the Friends of Observatory Library, patrons, members of the Owls Club and organisations who use the facility.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
