Sudan Library National Library of Sudan, University of Khartoum

Overview

The Sudan Library is a section of the main library of the University of Khartoum and serves as the de facto national library of Sudan. It functions simultaneously as a university research library and a national repository, collecting and preserving Sudanese publications and works about Sudan published abroad.

History and Founding

The University of Khartoum traces its origins to Gordon Memorial College, founded in 1902 by the British colonial government under Lord Kitchener. The college expanded through the twentieth century, gaining affiliation with the University of London in 1945 and achieving full university status in 1956 following Sudanese independence. The Sudan Library as a distinct national collection developed within this institutional context. A legal deposit act came into effect in 1966, making the Sudan Library the official depository of all Sudanese publications from that year. In 2018, the library was among the first institutions to contribute to the Sudan Memory Project, an international digitization initiative.

Collections and Holdings

The Sudan Library's catalogue constitutes a retrospective national bibliography of Sudan, encompassing Sudanese-authored works, official publications, and international works about Sudan. The University of Khartoum's broader main library holds over 400,000 volumes, including the Newbold Collection and the Sudan Collection. The library serves as the primary repository for legal deposit publications in Sudan and collects materials in all formats relating to Sudanese history, culture, and scholarship.

Access and Usage

The Sudan Library is accessible to University of Khartoum students, staff, and researchers. As the institution effectively functions as a national library, it also serves external researchers seeking materials on Sudanese history and society. The main campus (Al-Wasat Campus) is situated in central Khartoum on Gamaa Avenue (University Street) beside the Blue Nile.