Samoa Public Library Nelson Memorial Public Library

Overview

The Samoa Public Library, also known as the Nelson Memorial Public Library (NMPL), is the main public library of the Independent State of Samoa. Located on Beach Road in the capital Apia, it functions as the de facto national library of Samoa and is administered by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture. The library holds one of the finest Pacific and Samoan collections in the Pacific region.

History and Founding

Library services in Samoa were established in 1956, with the Nelson Memorial Public Library set up and initially housed in temporary premises in Apia. The current building on Beach Road was completed in 1959 and officially opened in 1960. Funding for the building came from the Samoan government, New Zealand, and the family of Olaf Frederick Nelson (1883–1944) — a prominent Samoan business leader, patriot, and Mau independence movement leader — in whose honor the library is named. The Nelson family donated the land on which the library stands and contributed part of the building costs.

Collections and Holdings

The library holds approximately 90,000 volumes. Notable collections include the Pacific and Samoan Collection (Samoana), which comprises one of the strongest regional collections of materials on Samoa and Pacific Island nations. The library also maintains a Junior Section serving readers under 15, a Reference Section, and an American Corner with computers and free internet access supported by a U.S. Embassy grant. An addition to the original building created space for archives and rare books. The only branch library, the Savai'i Public Library, is located in Salelologa on the island of Savai'i.

Access and Usage

The library is open Monday through Friday, 9:00–17:00. Digitization of the library's inventory has been planned in recent years to broaden access to its collections. The library's central Apia location, adjacent to the Town Clock, makes it readily accessible to all residents and visitors.