Rwanda

Supporting the creation of the first public library of Rwanda

The Kigali-Virunga Rotary Club, with the support of many international partners, began in 2000 to build the first public library of Rwanda in Kigali, respecting international standards. It was a turning point in the history of Rwanda. 

For the occasion, in 2010, LWB selected and sent 15,000 books and documents in French and in English for the Public Library of Kigali. We also purchased 4,000 locally-published books and documents. The construction of the library ended in 2011. 

A partnership with the group CAIRN.info allowed the library’s users to access electronic resources.

Towards a better inclusion of Congolese refugees

In the Nyabiheke Refugee Camp, Libraries Without Borders, Handicap International (Humanity and Inclusion) and the Rwanda Development Board have partnered together with the goal of strengthening the inclusion and access to services in host communities for Congolese refugees suffering from certain psychological and mental disorders. Thanks to the Ideas Box, activities for raising awareness about disabilities and mental health have taken place regularly. The primary objective is to build fundamental skills for empowering users, thereby giving them a better chance to pursue their academic studies and professional development.

Strengthening the abilities of Great Lakes inter-university network libraries

The inter-university network of the Great Lakes Region (RIGL) consists of 24 universities from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda. The sustainability of this network depends on the uniformity of practices regarding governance but also regarding educational content and documentary resources. 

From 2012 to 2014, LWB supported the construction of the network by organizing a training seminar for the heads of libraries of member universities. This seminar allowed librarians from the 24 universities to meet, gain awareness of the opportunities of working in a network, and work together to develop frameworks for their joint work.

The creation of centers of excellence in each of the three countries has enabled student exchanges. In order to support the implementation of these centers of excellence, LWB teamed up with the partner universities to develop resource centers specialized in the fields concerned. Today, 150,000 students and teacher-researchers from the 24 RIGL member institutions benefit from improved access to resources and information.

Our Work in Rwanda

Backing the creation of Rwanda’s first public library
Objective

Education & Cultural Diversity

Start date

Status

Closed

Actions

Libraries Without Borders (BSF) contributed 15,000 works and documents in French and English for the Kigali Public Library. We have also facilitated the acquisition of 4000 locally edited books and documents as well as transporting them to the library.
Additionally, our partnership with the CAIRN.info group allowed us to provide electronic resources for the library.

Beneficiaries

The inhabitants of Kigali, as well as students and teachers.

WITH SUPPORT FROM

Financial Partners

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Executive Partners

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Strengthening the capacities of the African Great Lakes Interuniversity library network (RIGL)
Objective

Training & Capacity Building

Start date

2012

Status

Closed

Context

The RIGL is a young and developing network that links 24 universities in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. The sustainability of this network relies on the standardization of governance practices but also on educational content and information resources.

Actions

  • Standardization of practices in regards to the management of information and of documentary resources
  • Promotion of interuniversity research that standardizes indexing and cataloging practices and allows for the establishment of a communal collection catalogue
  • The elevation of librarians’ abilities by promoting the exchange of good practices and knowledge
  • The promotion of academic excellence at the university level by pooling documentary funds and by proposing resources that are rich, varied and complementary within the network

Librairies Without Borders will oversee the structuring of this network by organizing a training seminar for the head librarians of member universities.  This seminar will allow librarians from 24 universities to gather, to learn of work opportunities within the network and to develop frameworks together.

Apart from the standardization of governance procedures, the sustainability of this network requires centers in all countries to reinforce student exchanges between the three countries.  Along with the implementation of these courses of excellence, LWB will join forces with its partner universities in order to develop the centers of specialized documentary resources in the concerned domains.

Objectives

  • To develop training capacities, research and access to documentary resources within RIGL
  • To develop access to documentary resources that support the area of excellence.
  • To ensure the training of RIGL library directors in preparation for the creation of a network of RIGL university libraries.

Actions

  • 3 documentary resource centers were created in connection with the area of excellence chosen by RIGL.
  • A training seminar was organized in preparation for the creation of a network of Great Lakes university librairies.

Beneficiaries

  • The RIGL university library personnel who benefited from training and networking of their librairies.
  • The 150,000 students and the lecturers/researchers at the 24 RIGL member universities who benefited from better access to resources and to information.

WITH SUPPORT FROM

Financial Partners

Executive Partners