| Fish Hoek Library | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| 34°08′10″S 18°25′36″E / 34.13606679364871°S 18.426529805662152°E | |
| Location | Civic Centre, Central Circle, Fish Hoek, Cape Town, South Africa |
| Type | Public library |
| Established | 1954 |
| Branch of | City of Cape Town Library and Information Services |
| Collection | |
| Size | 92,414 (June 2014) |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 423,517 (2016) |
| Population served | 11,890 (2011) |
| Members | 8195 |
| Other information | |
| Employees | 14 employees |
| Website | Fish Hoek Library |
Fish Hoek Library is a public library in the seaside suburb of Fish Hoek in Cape Town, South Africa. It was ranked 5th in the City of Cape Town's top circulating libraries in 2015[1]
The library provides access to two online encyclopedias. The library's holdings can be searched online via the City of Cape Town's Open Public Access Catalogue (OPAC).[2]
Fish Hoek is a bedroom community with approximately 12,000 residents.[3] To allow commuters to access resources, the library is open on Monday and Thursday evenings. The library opened on 1 April 1954 in an old municipal building and was run for the next 36 years by Ethel May Gillard.[4] The library opened its current location[5] in 1988[4]
The children's section of the library is used by grandparents who are taking care of their grandchildren while parents are working in the city. On Friday mornings, the library operates a Story Hour for small children.[6]
As part of the Smartcape initiative[7] for poor residents of Cape Town, the library also offers free access to 10 computers, which can be used to edit documents, create presentations and access the internet.[8] Also a part of community outreach programs is a book service to local old-age homes, as well as specialised services to local home schoolers.
The library holds a monthly literary tea talk,[9][10] featuring local authors, who visit to discuss their books and conducts a regular book sale. Originally begun as a fundraising event, the annual "Library Alive" promotional fundraiser is now a regular annual event.[11]
In 2015, the library implemented the annual "Blown Away By Books" festival.[12] Although originally presented by Fish Hoek Library, the festival has now grown to include nearby libraries in Masiphumelele, Ocean View, Kommetjie and Simons Town.[13]
On the second and last Saturdays of the month, the library hosts a craft market.[14]
The library in the Masiphumelele township was managed by the Fish Hoek library from 2003 until 2010,[15] when it was reclassified as a separate branch.
