| National Library of Somalia | |
|---|---|
| Matxafka Qaranka | |
 | |
| 2°02′16″N 45°20′20″E / 2.037654388254787°N 45.33878601434784°E | |
| Location | Mogadishu, Somalia |
| Type | National library |
| Established | 1975 |
The National Library of Somalia is a national library in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
History[edit]
The National Library was established in 1975, and was open to the general public. In 1983, it held approximately 7,000 books, with limited historical and cultural archival material.[1]
The National Library later closed down in the 1990s during the Somali Civil War. In June 2013, the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies organized a shipment of 22,000 books from the United States to Somalia as part of an initiative to restock the library.[2] In December of that year, the Somali authorities officially launched a major project to rebuild the National Library.
With Zainab Hassan serving as Director, the $1 million federal government-funded initiative intends for a new library complex to be built in the capital within six months. In preparation for the relaunch, 60,000 additional books from other Arab League states are expected to arrive.
References[edit]
- ^ "Development of services: National Library" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- ^ Shephard, Michelle (19 July 2013). "Somalia's national library rises amid the ruins". Toronto Star. Retrieved 23 January 2014.