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National Library of Somalia

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National Library of Somalia
Matxafka Qaranka
Map
2°02′16″N 45°20′20″E / 2.037654388254787°N 45.33878601434784°E / 2.037654388254787; 45.33878601434784
LocationMogadishu, Somalia
TypeNational library
Established1975
Zainab Hassan, Director of the National Library of Somalia

The National Library of Somalia is a national library in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

History

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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

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  1. ^ "Development of services: National Library" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  2. ^ Shephard, Michelle (19 July 2013). "Somalia's national library rises amid the ruins". Toronto Star. Retrieved 23 January 2014.