National Central Library Tanzania Library Services Board (TLSB) Shirika la Huduma za Maktaba Tanzania

Overview

The National Central Library of Tanzania is operated by the Tanzania Library Services Board (TLSB; Shirika la Huduma za Maktaba Tanzania), which also administers the country's network of public libraries. TLSB operates under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. It serves as Tanzania's legal deposit library and compiles the national bibliography.

History and Founding

Library services in mainland Tanzania were formalized by the Tanganyika Library Services Board Act of 1963, which authorized a board to develop and maintain libraries. The National Central Library in Dar es Salaam was opened by President Julius Nyerere in 1967. In 1975, a new Tanzania Library Services Board Act replaced the 1963 legislation, extending the Board's mandate to include documentation services, librarian training, and the promotion of indigenous Tanzanian literature. TLSB was established as a legal entity under Parliament Act No. 6 of 1975. By the 1970s, purpose-built libraries had been constructed in major urban centers. As of the mid-2010s, TLSB operated 21 regional, 18 district, and one divisional library, with approximately 400 staff.

Collections and Services

The National Central Library holds approximately 656,000 volumes and provides public information services covering education, research, social, economic, and cultural development topics. TLSB coordinates centralized bibliographic and technical services for libraries nationwide. It provides training and professional examinations for librarians, and coordinates library development with government departments and other organizations.

Access

The National Central Library is open Monday through Saturday, 09:00–19:00. Membership registration is available for Tanzanian citizens and residents.