The City of Johannesburg’s Library and Information Services (LIS) is giving residents free online access to newspapers and magazines from around the globe – and yes, that includes your favourites.

Through PressReader, CoJ library members can enjoy titles like Mail & Guardian, The Citizen, The Star, Cape Times and a wealth of local and international magazines – all without paying subscription fees. Most publications are available for up to three months after release.

Sicelo Tshisa, CoJ LIS Manager: e-Learning and Library Applications, says the City’s libraries grants free access to PressReader to members of the library.

“Our mandate as libraries and as a City is to make sure people have access to information and encourage people to read. We are trying to offer library services beyond the walls of our traditional libraries. That’s part of service delivery,” says Tshisa.

“It gives us comfort when people are aware of what’s happening around them and they have the resources available to them,” he says.

The City offers several free resources through its e-learning portal. Other online resources include e-Books and e-Audiobooks, for students there’s a collection of journals available through EbscoHost, MSD Medical manuals, Sabinet African Journals, as well as access to encyclopedias and legal and legislation readings.

Here’s how residents can access PressReader:

• Become a City of Joburg library member
• After joining members will receive login details for PressReader on request
• Go to a CoJ geofenced hotspot (which include selected CoJ libraries)
• Download the PressReader app
• Open the app
• When using the app, make sure that your device’s location is switched ON and that you have given PressReader permission to access your Location. Check via Settings  Location  App Permissions.
• You may need to move closer to the Hotspot to connect. Once you have connected you have access for 14 days, after which you will need to revisit the hotspot to reconnect.

Written by Brümilda Swartbooi