Public libraries as placemakers in the urban landscape: a case study of two public libraries in Cape Town, South Africa

Patel, Najma

Public libraries as placemakers in the urban landscape: a case study of two public libraries in Cape Town, South Africa

Thesis / Dissertation

2026

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Knowledge and Information Stewardship

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

The issue that this study addressed is how the role of public libraries as placemakers contribute to the urban landscape within a South African spatial planning challenge. The concept of placemaking highlights a meaningful connection that people have to public spaces and how they use and navigate these spaces to revitalize their communities. This fits well into the contemporary concept of public libraries as enablers, connectors, and community centres. The two community libraries were selected for their position in disadvantaged areas within the Cape Town urban landscape. The notable difference between the two libraries is that one library has moved into a new urban hub, while the other library has been in the same building since 1982. Since this study requires both a descriptive element as well as measured or observed variables, a mixed-methods approach was adopted to provide the necessary range of types of data to give a complete understanding of the research topic. Following from this, this study engaged various role players viz. visitors to the library; library professionals and professionals in the field of urban planning at the City of Cape Town to help unpack the placemaking elements of public libraries as well as being cognisant of the urban landscape. Fifty questionnaires were distributed to visitors at each library to gather demographic data as well as information in relation to the attributes of place. Focus Group Discussions were conducted with visitors at each library to gain an understanding about the community and what value and meaning the library adds to their experience of place. Interviews were conducted with Librarians-in-Charge at each library to ascertain their role as facilitators in the placemaking and social cohesion process. Interviews were also conducted with officials from the Urban Integration Department of the City of Cape Town to better understand the role of placemaking from an urban planning policy perspective. The results show that the two libraries while notably different – one an old apartheid style building and the other in a new urban hub - both measure up to different aspects of the attributes of placemaking. Visitors to the libraries attribute value and meaning to the library as place. Librarians are also important role players in facilitating social cohesion and social capital through programmes and networking. It is evident also that urban planners understand the importance of placemaking and the role that the library plays in this regard. Recommendations from this research are that librarians need to be more active in advocating for libraries as important role players in the development of the changing urban landscape. Libraries are ideal placemakers who have an important role in both social capital and social cohesion and librarians facilitate this more actively.

Keywords

public library

placemaker

Reference:

Collections

Masters

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