Seychelles National Library
Library in Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Seychelles National Library (also known as National Library of the Seychelles) is a library located in Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles. It is the legal deposit and copyright library for Seychelles.
_national_library.jpg)
15 December 1978 (as National Library of Seychelles)
| Seychelles National Library | |
|---|---|
Façade of the Seychelles National Library | |
 | |
| 4.625981917275498°S 55.4540799596974°E | |
| Location | Francis Rachel Street, Mahé, Seychelles, Seychelles |
| Type | National library |
| Established | 22 January 1910 (as Carnegie Public Library) 15 December 1978 (as National Library of Seychelles) |
| Collection | |
| Items collected | books, journals, newspapers, magazines, sound and music recordings, patents, databases, maps, stamps, prints, drawings and manuscripts |
| Other information | |
| Parent organization | Government of Seychelles |
| Website | natlibsey.com |
History
The Seychelles National Library's predecessor, the Carnegie Public Library, opened in 1910. It was funded by the Carnegie Trust Fund and managed by a board of trustees. A grant of £1,750 was provided by the Trust Fund for setting it up.[1] In 1970, the Department of Education took over and renamed it the Carnegie Public Library, leading to the dissolution of the board.[2]
In 1978, the Carnegie Public Library became the National Library of Seychelles. The following year, it moved to a newly renovated building on State House Avenue.[2] It was the actual mayor’s office building where it stayed until 1994, when the entire book collection was transferred to the new campus on Francis Rachel Street (Rue de la Possession).[1]
The British Council supported the library by providing a grant for new shelves, appointing an English librarian, and expanding the collection.[3]
Restoration
In August 2013, the National Library building, which accommodated both the National Archives and the library, was closed due to a fungal infestation. To address this issue, the Green Island Construction Company was awarded a renovation contract worth $5.6 million (SCR75 million). Presently, the National Archives are located at Maison Helena on Ile du Port, an artificial island adjacent to the capital city of Victoria.[4]
