Arlit Municipal Library in Niger

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The AREVA group is supporting the construction of a documentation center in Arlit, a town in the country’s north. The Arlit municipal library opened in February 2008 and is one of the country’s largest, containing more than 20,000 books. The only cultural space in the town, it is today used by thousands of children. Yet, in the absence of a coherent cultural and educational policy, it is struggling to grow.

LWB is supporting the Arlit library to help it enlarge its collection of African books, create a wide range of cultural activities and a bookbinding workshop.

OBJECTIVES

• To encourage the expansion of the municipal library by improving the quality of the services it offers.
• To support library initiatives involving recreational activities for its youth clientele.
• To implement a coherent cultural and pedagogical policy.
• To ensure the durable conservation of collections.
• To establish a high quality information service.
• To encourage the emergence of local book supply chains via the purchase of African books.

ACTIVITIES

• Creating a collection of African books.
• Training of staff to oversee the library, conservation and bookbinding activities, event scheduling and cultural programs in Niger and France.
• The establishment of the computing service (acquisition and dispatch of computers, digital catalog development, library web portal development).
• Expert assistance in developing cultural activities.

BENEFICIARIES

• The children and adolescents of Arlit.
• The teachers and professors of Arlit who will be able to use the library’s material and digital resources.

PARTNERS

• The Arlit urban district
• The AREVA Foundation