Tunisia

During the revolution of January 2011, the Tunisian libraries were subject to serious damage, either because they were considered public buildings which represented the State and its power, or following the retaliation of partisans of the old regime.

Our Actions

During the revolution in January 2011, libraries in Tunisia were severely damaged, either due to their close proximity to public buildings representing state power or from reprisals of the past government’s supporters. Around forty public libraries were looted or burned and much digital material and many resource collections suffered considerable damage. 

In the context of political transition, libraries play a fundamental role, whether as a point of access of information, as a mass education center, or as a space of debate and building up citizens. 

The reopening of destroyed libraries was one of the priorities of the Directorate of Public Reading of Tunisia. Libraries Without Borders thus supported in 2011, in partnership with the Office of Books of the French embassy in Tunis and with other associations, the renewal of French-language book collections in four damaged libraries in Medjez El Bab, Dar Chaâbane El Fehri, Mnihla, and Kasserine. 

In collaboration with the Directorate of Public Reading of Tunisia and with Tunisian libraries, we selected 10,000 works in line with the needs expressed and sent them to the four libraries within the network. 

Finally, in 2018, numerous books were also sent to Nordprint Almadanya for the project “Libraries Mission.”

Our Work in Tunisia


Supporting the Libraries Damaged During the Revolution in Tunisia

Objective

Emergency & Post-Conflict


Start date


Status

Closed


Project Description

During the revolution of January 2011, forty public libraries were pillaged or burned, technology within was damaged and considerable damage caused to documents. In the context of political transition, libraries play a fundamental role as a point of access to information, a popular place of education or as a space for debating and building citizenship. The re-opening of these destroyed libraries was one of the priorities of the Department of Public Reading of Tunisia.

OBJECTIVES

  • To allow for the reopening of 4 libraries destroyed/damaged during the Tunisian revolution
  • To accompany the process of political transition by offering places for debate and access to information to all Tunisian citizens.

ACTIVITIES

  • Bibliographic selection made by the Department of Public Reading of Tunisia and by Tunisian libraries.
  • An endowment of 10,000 works according to the expressed needs (required types of books stated) of the 4 libraries within the network.

BENEFICIARIES

  • All the inhabitants of the towns OF Mnihla, Kasserine, Dar Chaâbane El Fehri, et Medjez El Bab (about 185,000 people).

PARTNERS

  • Department of Public Reading of Tunisia
  • National Federation of the Associations of the Friends of Tunisian Libraries
  • French embassy in Tunisia
  • French Minister of Culture and Development
  • General Council of Essonne