The forgotten public library hidden underneath a Johannesburg mall

Hidden in the basement parking area of the Killarney Mall in Johannesburg, through an unassuming door and dingy hallway, is a small public library that local residents have been trying to uplift on their own. 

The Killarney Library was once a popular community gathering point, located inside the Killarney Mall.

However, in 2005, the Library was relocated to a small room in the basement parking area, in what community activist Yasirah Madhi said is an “unsuitable location.”

This was after the Killarney Mall was refurbished in 2005, a project that cost R90 million, or R260 million in today’s term. The library’s rent-free premises were moved outside the banking mall.

“Being in a basement, the library has no natural light and very little ventilation,” Madhi explained to Newsday.

Since moving, the library has seen a decline in visitors. As such, the walls, floors, books, and furniture have been slowly deteriorating.

“The chairs are breaking and the floor is scruffy. The attendance register shows usually under ten visitors per day,” she said. “We want to increase that.”

Madhi said that no one is frequenting the library, mostly because few even know that it exists.

Community members, including Madhi, formed a WhatsApp group that now has over 120 members, named the Friends of the Library Killarney (FOLK).

The group said that it attempted to get the support of the City of Johannesburg (COJ) Library and Information Services, but the government said that its ability to help is limited because there is no budget available for the Killarney Library. 

“This means that all cosmetic changes we would want to make need to be funded by us alone,” Madhi said. 

The group took on the task, “We started by handing out flyers to each apartment building in Killarney with a map of where the library is located and how to use it,” she said. 

They followed this up with a book drive, where they collected second-hand books from the community and sold them for R20 each. Madhi said this was very successful and raised a good starting fund for the library. 

“Ultimately though, we are not sure we have seen an increase in users. It increased slightly after we handed out the flyers and held the book sale, but numbers took a major dip again after that,” said Madhi.

The main reason for this, Madhi believes, is that the library is only open from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, when most people are at work or school. 

No help from the COJ

“Engagements with COJ have been fruitless in this regard,” Madhi said. The reduced hours are the symptom of an ongoing labour dispute regarding opening libraries on Saturdays.

“This has been going on since July 2022,” Madhi said. It has made hosting events and attracting a large number of visitors difficult for the group.

FOLK has managed to improve the visibility of the library and has now begun hosting events to attract both adults and children. It hosted one of its first events on 7 October, a reading session for children.

Looking forward, Madhi said that the FOLK are trying to get the library moved to a new location and are advocating for increased hours to attract more people. 

The group is also trying to get a mural painted outside the library, so that it is easier to find for visitors. 

Madhi said the group wants to build up more community groups, including one for retirees, but is looking for someone to take on the task. 

Newsday visited the library and found a sepia-toned, small room, almost devoid of people, filled with mostly old and well-worn books.

Two visitors sat using the space’s wifi and electronic facilities to do research on their laptops. The walls, devoid of windows, are plasted with old posters on literacy, South African history and tips for using the library.

The linoleum floors show signs of age and damage, and one of the chairs are broken and covered with a plastic bag. 

However, the devotion that has been poured into the facility is also evident. Each book is carefully placed neatly on the shelves and mostly covered with protective plastic, the chairs and tables are old and in some cases torn, but spotlessly clean.

Up-to-date local newspapers are available to visitors, and the display of recommended books appears meticulously thought out. 

The friendly staff are welcoming and passionate about the hidden gem. A local librarian told Newsday that he hopes the upcoming FOLK events will bring in more children to the library, as very few visit these days. 

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More photos from the Killarney Public Library