Public Library

Stellenbosch's public library serves the town's broadest constituency—residents without university affiliation or private resources, families seeking materials for children, job seekers using computers, and people who simply want access to reading and information as a public good. It anchors a community asset that schools and private institutions don't replace. The library's role extends beyond circulation: it's often a safe, climate-controlled public space in a town where not everyone has adequate facilities at home. Summer reading programmes, community notices, local history collections, and computer access for those without home internet all rest on the library's presence and funding. Whether residents feel welcome, whether the collection reflects what the community actually reads, and whether staff have capacity to assist users all determine whether the library functions as a meaningful community resource or merely occupies a building.