National Library of Mauritius
Encyclopedia
The National Library of the Republic of Mauritius, has been entrusted by law as the national institution responsible for collecting, bibliographically recording, preserving and making available the nation’s collective memory
. It provides information on practically all branches of knowledge and function as a center of coordination, planning and stimulation of the country’s library
system.
The institution was established by the Government under the National Library Act, 1996 (Act No. 32) as a body corporate, under the Ministry of Arts and Culture.
It was officially opened to the public in January 2000.
NL's VISION: The National Library of the Republic of Mauritius aims to be a top class library in the provision of information services to the nation, thus contributing to its development.
NL's MISSION:
The National Library would provide equal access to information to all Mauritian
nationals, thus leveling educational opportunities and deepening the democratization
process.
ITS ROLE AS THE NATIONAL LIBRARY:
The main role of the National Library of Mauritius is to build a comprehensive collection of our national heritage by collecting, receiving and preserving all publication
s and productions, printed and produced in Mauritius for present and future generations. The main source of acquisition is by means of the legal deposit
system as per the National Library Act 1996 which stipulates that every printer in Mauritius is required to deposit, free of charge, with the Director of the National Library six copies of each publication, be it a book, periodical, report, newspaper or any other printed document. The same rule applies to all the producers in Mauritius who have to deposit six copies of any non-print materials produced. To ensure that access is given to the most comprehensive collection of Mauritiana
materials, the National Library has to acquire all print and non-print materials published and printed abroad, whose subject matter is related to Mauritius. The National Library is also responsible to build a collection of foreign reference materials on different subjects of interest for the benefit of the Mauritian public at large. As an apex institution in the field of information in Mauritius, the National Library functions as a central institution for coordination, planning and development of the entire library system of Mauritius.
NL's OBJECTIVES:
The Objectives of the National Library are: to promote and encourage the use of library materials; · to acquire library materials generally, and, in particular, a comprehensive collection of library materials relating to Mauritius; · to collect, receive and preserve all library materials required to be deposited in the Library; · to lend library materials to the public*; · to make library materials available to the public for reference; · to participate in planning library services in Mauritius, promote research in library fields and provide assistance in information handling techniques; · to act as the national bibliographic center and maintain the national bibliography
and other bibliographies; · to act as an organising agency for national and international lending and exchange of library materials; and · to initiate and promote co-operation between the Library and other libraries, both at national and international levels. * (Through other libraries)
NL's COLLECTION:
The National Library’s Mauritiana collection consists of materials in various formats such as: written or graphic records, typescripts, books, newspapers, periodicals, music scores, photographs, maps, drawings, and non-print materials such as films, filmstrips, audiovisual items including tapes, discs and reproductions relating to any subject and produced in Mauritius or relating to Mauritius and produced overseas. Subject coverage includes: agriculture
, architecture
, biography
, computer science
, economics
, geography
, handicraft
, history
, language
s, literature
, politics
, pure and applied sciences, religion
and so on. Our holdings also comprise rare documents namely bluebooks, almanacs, administrative reports, National Assembly debates, manuscripts, theses/dissertations, government gazettes and newspapers dating back from 1777 I.M.F.
, World Bank
and United Nations
documents, etc.
Collective memory
Collective memory refers to the shared pool of information held in the memories of two or more members of a group, and was coined by the philosopher and sociologist Maurice Halbwachs. Collective memory can be shared, passed on and constructed by groups both small and large...
. It provides information on practically all branches of knowledge and function as a center of coordination, planning and stimulation of the country’s library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
system.
The institution was established by the Government under the National Library Act, 1996 (Act No. 32) as a body corporate, under the Ministry of Arts and Culture.
It was officially opened to the public in January 2000.
NL's VISION: The National Library of the Republic of Mauritius aims to be a top class library in the provision of information services to the nation, thus contributing to its development.
NL's MISSION:
The National Library would provide equal access to information to all Mauritian
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
nationals, thus leveling educational opportunities and deepening the democratization
Democratization
Democratization is the transition to a more democratic political regime. It may be the transition from an authoritarian regime to a full democracy, a transition from an authoritarian political system to a semi-democracy or transition from a semi-authoritarian political system to a democratic...
process.
ITS ROLE AS THE NATIONAL LIBRARY:
The main role of the National Library of Mauritius is to build a comprehensive collection of our national heritage by collecting, receiving and preserving all publication
Publication
To publish is to make content available to the public. While specific use of the term may vary among countries, it is usually applied to text, images, or other audio-visual content on any medium, including paper or electronic publishing forms such as websites, e-books, Compact Discs and MP3s...
s and productions, printed and produced in Mauritius for present and future generations. The main source of acquisition is by means of the legal deposit
Legal deposit
Legal deposit is a legal requirement that a person or group submit copies of their publications to a repository, usually a library. The requirement is mostly limited to books and periodicals. The number of copies varies and can range from one to 19 . Typically, the national library is one of the...
system as per the National Library Act 1996 which stipulates that every printer in Mauritius is required to deposit, free of charge, with the Director of the National Library six copies of each publication, be it a book, periodical, report, newspaper or any other printed document. The same rule applies to all the producers in Mauritius who have to deposit six copies of any non-print materials produced. To ensure that access is given to the most comprehensive collection of Mauritiana
Mauritiana
Mauritiana is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Requienellaceae....
materials, the National Library has to acquire all print and non-print materials published and printed abroad, whose subject matter is related to Mauritius. The National Library is also responsible to build a collection of foreign reference materials on different subjects of interest for the benefit of the Mauritian public at large. As an apex institution in the field of information in Mauritius, the National Library functions as a central institution for coordination, planning and development of the entire library system of Mauritius.
NL's OBJECTIVES:
The Objectives of the National Library are: to promote and encourage the use of library materials; · to acquire library materials generally, and, in particular, a comprehensive collection of library materials relating to Mauritius; · to collect, receive and preserve all library materials required to be deposited in the Library; · to lend library materials to the public*; · to make library materials available to the public for reference; · to participate in planning library services in Mauritius, promote research in library fields and provide assistance in information handling techniques; · to act as the national bibliographic center and maintain the national bibliography
Bibliography
Bibliography , as a practice, is the academic study of books as physical, cultural objects; in this sense, it is also known as bibliology...
and other bibliographies; · to act as an organising agency for national and international lending and exchange of library materials; and · to initiate and promote co-operation between the Library and other libraries, both at national and international levels. * (Through other libraries)
NL's COLLECTION:
The National Library’s Mauritiana collection consists of materials in various formats such as: written or graphic records, typescripts, books, newspapers, periodicals, music scores, photographs, maps, drawings, and non-print materials such as films, filmstrips, audiovisual items including tapes, discs and reproductions relating to any subject and produced in Mauritius or relating to Mauritius and produced overseas. Subject coverage includes: agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, biography
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
, computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
, economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
, handicraft
Handicraft
Handicraft, more precisely expressed as artisanic handicraft, sometimes also called artisanry, is a type of work where useful and decorative devices are made completely by hand or by using only simple tools. It is a traditional main sector of craft. Usually the term is applied to traditional means...
, history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
s, literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, pure and applied sciences, religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
and so on. Our holdings also comprise rare documents namely bluebooks, almanacs, administrative reports, National Assembly debates, manuscripts, theses/dissertations, government gazettes and newspapers dating back from 1777 I.M.F.
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
, World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
and United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
documents, etc.