The Sir Lowry’s Pass facility now offers far more than books and information services. The pilot includes robust indoor cooling measures, guaranteed access to clean drinking water, strategically placed shaded outdoor areas, and comprehensive information materials to help residents navigate extreme heat periods safely. Child-friendly and educational activities ensure the space remains inclusive and welcoming for entire families seeking relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The launch event brought together an impressive coalition of City officials, Library and Information Services staff, partner departments, community members, and media representatives to showcase how trusted public facilities can be rapidly adapted to provide accessible cooling during scorching days and dangerous heatwaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Community-centered climate action<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mayoral Committee member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham, emphasised the natural evolution of libraries as community sanctuaries during her keynote address. “Our libraries have always been welcoming spaces, and today’s launch gives new meaning to the idea of libraries as ‘cool spaces’. Extreme heat isn’t just about the environment \u2013 it affects people’s health and daily lives. Initiatives like Cool Spaces provide preventative support for vulnerable residents while demonstrating how public facilities can work harder for communities.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n With millions of annual visits, Cape Town’s libraries represent trusted, accessible spaces perfectly positioned to offer critical relief when temperatures become dangerous. “These are already places where communities feel safe and welcome, which makes them ideal locations for heat response,” Higham added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Proactive climate adaptation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Albert Ferreira, the City’s Manager for Resilience and Climate Change and Chief Heat Officer, highlighted the pilot’s practical approach to climate adaptation challenges. “Cape Town is already experiencing higher temperatures, and this trend is expected to continue. Cool Spaces are about providing immediate, accessible relief in places communities already trust. By using public facilities like libraries, we are responding proactively to heat risk while strengthening community resilience where it matters most.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initiative forms a crucial component of Cape Town’s Climate Change Action Plan and Heat Action Plan, representing the City’s commitment to community-based cooling interventions as temperatures continue rising across the metro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learning through community engagement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ren\u00e9 Walker, Area Head for Library and Information Services, emphasised the importance of real-world testing in community settings. “This pilot allows us to learn directly from how communities use and experience the space. Libraries already function as community hubs, and the Cool Spaces pilot builds on this role by strengthening access, dignity, and resilience in response to climate realities.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Collaborative innovation in action<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Cool Spaces pilot showcases exceptional interdepartmental collaboration, with Library and Information Services, Risk and Resilience, Disaster Risk Management, Recreation and Parks, and Urban Waste Management working seamlessly together to deliver this visible, practical, and people-centered intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The launch celebration featured a comprehensive Cool Space walkthrough, environmental education sessions on recycling and littering, an engaging puppet show facilitated by Disaster Risk Management, children’s story reading featuring “Lulu and the Cool Space,” appearances by beloved City mascots LIBee and Bingo, and recreational activities hosted by Recreation and Parks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Building the future<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Insights gathered from the Sir Lowry’s Pass pilot will directly inform future planning and guide implementation of similar Cool Spaces across Cape Town’s extensive network of public facilities. The project represents a scalable model for climate adaptation that prioritizes community needs while leveraging existing infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Cape Town faces an increasingly challenging climate future, the transformation of Sir Lowry’s Pass Library demonstrates how innovative thinking and collaborative action can turn everyday public spaces into powerful tools for community protection and resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Caption 1:<\/strong> Key stakeholders at the launch include (from left) Albert Ferreira, Manager Resilience and Climate Change; Raphael Snyders, former Librarian in Charge Sir Lowry’s Pass Library and currently Librarian in Charge at Meadowridge Library; Rene Schoombee, Area Head 6 LIS; Councillor Francine Higham; Councillor Ronel Viljoen, Portfolio Committee Chairperson Community Services and Health; Ninnie Steyn, Director LIS; and Zukiswa Mandlana, Executive Director Community Services and Health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sir Lowry’s Pass Library has become Cape Town’s first Cool Spaces pilot facility, transforming into a life-saving refuge with indoor cooling, clean water, and shaded areas to protect vulnerable residents during extreme heat as part of the City of Cape Town’s Beat the Heat campaign and broader climate adaptation strategy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":296363,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"74","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"60","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"60","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"4","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"1","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post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Lowry's Pass Library has launched an innovative pilot project that's transforming the community facility into a life-saving \"cool space\" where its most vulnerable residents can find refuge and a cold sip of water during extremely hot days. This groundbreaking initiative specifically serves elderly residents, pregnant women, children and anyone with chronic illnesses who face serious health risks when temperatures soar. The launch event on Monday 26 January brought together Albert Ferreira, Cape Town's chief heat officer and manager for resilience and climate change, alongside Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee member for Community Services and Health, who delivered an inspiring address. Ren\u00e9 Walker, area head for Library and Information Services, opened the celebration, while librarian Raphael Snyders shared how the initiative represents the facility's commitment to serving the entire community. The festivities sparkled with special appearances from beloved mascots Libee and Bingo, the latter delivering an educational presentation about recycling as part of the broader cool space initiative. Local primary school children became the stars of the day, enjoying captivating puppet shows, interactive readings and board games, while staying comfortably cool. Sir Lowry's Pass Library proves that effective solutions emerge from community hearts. The facility has evolved beyond housing books, now housing hope, health and happiness, and demonstrating that staying cool during extreme weather brings communities together in heartwarming ways. 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Photo: Yaseen Gaffar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n