National Library of Maldives (Qaumee Kuthubukhaanaa)

Overview

The National Library of Maldives is the country's oldest and largest library, based in Malé, and serves as the apex organization of Maldives' library and information service system. It operates under the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage.

History

The library was founded on July 12, 1945, as the "State Library" (Dhaulathuge Kuthubukhaanaa) by Ameer Mohamed Amin Didi, then Head of the Department of Education. In 1948 it was renamed the Majeedhee Library, after statesman Ameer Abdul Majeed Didi, and operated under the Ministry of Home Affairs, during which time it received a rotating book collection from the British Council in Colombo and a collection left by the British on Gan Island. A librarian post was created in 1978, and in 1980 a UNESCO delegate advised on the library's development, leading to the first librarianship courses held there. The library was renamed the National Library (Qaumee Kuthubuhaanaa) on June 1, 1982 by then-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Its supervising ministry has changed several times since, including periods under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (from 1993), the Ministry of Tourism (2009-2013), and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, before moving to the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage in July 2018.

Collections, Holdings, and Publications

The library's English-language section holds more than 37,970 books, alongside 10,212 Dhivehi-language, 1,570 Arabic-language, and 950 Urdu-language books. Special collections include an American Corner, a UN collection, and a Women and Gender collection, alongside serials, periodicals, manuscripts, and newspaper cutting files. The library administers Maldives' legal deposit system and publishes the national bibliography.

Access and Usage

The library operates a Children's Multimedia Library and offers an Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) for members to search, renew, and reserve books, along with study spaces including silent zones, PC areas, and group study areas.