The re-opening of the Johannesburg Public Library on Tuesday 14 February, 2012,  was covered by a number of print media as well as sparking coverage on wider library issues on talk radio (SAFM and CapeTalk).   

Times Live reports that the  78-year-old, four-floor library, which has state-of-the-art facilities that include a theatre, underwent a R95-million face-lift. It has been transformed into one of the city's jewels with its top-of-the-range work stations giving free internet.

 IOL reported that the restoration of the Johannesburg library was a project “filled with lots of soul”, according to Hlamalani Ndlovu, chairman of Fikile Construction, the company contracted to refurbish the building.

Mail and Guardian also reported on the opening and included a video.

Vodacom connecting libraries

Vodacom has announced the successful implementation of Phase 1 of a libraries project for internet connectivity across three provinces – North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. When completed, almost 300 community libraries will be connected using VSAT and Vodacom ADSL services.

The National Department of Arts and Culture multi- million Rand project is managed and driven by the National Library of South Africa (NLSA) and is being successfully implemented due to tight co-operation and communication between the service provider and Provincial Libraries.

Here's the story   and the coverage from ITNews Africa.

Johannesburg Public Library set to re-open

A revamped Johannesburg Public Library is set to re-open early next year, reports the Star.    The building has undergone a R93,5 million refurbishment.  It has been closed since 2009 for restoration work.

Khayeltisha Library officially opened

Cape Town Mayor, Patricia de Lille, officially opened the Khayelitsha Library on Thursday 17th November,  reports the West Cape News.      Story also on All Africa and  on  Media Club South Africa.

Mobile Libraries reach Schools

Eleven mobile libraries were handed over to the Department of Basic Education by  the SA Primary Education Support Initiative (backed by Japan)  in Pretoria on 17th November 2011, reports TimesLive and Business Day 

We have 22000 primary schools in the country and only about 18% [about 3960] have libraries, which is very low," said Motshekga.   "We are expanding access to books because the infrastructure of having libraries might take longer than we can afford to wait."   Motshekga said to cover the schools that do not have libraries, the department "is working closer with municipalities to up their services at schools and give kids more books".

Story also in Sowetan.

Shipwreck story unearthed at National Library

The Sunday Times (13/11/2011) reports on the discovery of  a rare book at the National Library of South Africa (Cape Town campus).   The book, in French, was written about 200 years ago, by Charles Etienne-Boniface, in which he tells of the sinking of the merchant ship, the Eole, near Butterworth on the Wild Coast in April 1829.       British academic, Dr David Culpin, came across the book while researching the collection of Sir George Grey, governor of the Cape Colony between 1854 and 1861.    Only nine copies of the book are known to exist.