Outreach activities

The World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated since 23rd April 1995 on a worldwide basis. Since 2003, the National Library has taken the initiative to celebrate the World Book Day on a national basis in Mauritius. In collaboration with several stakeholders such as libraries, booksellers, printers, writers, cultural organizations, Municipalities, Embassies, Ministries, etc. , a series of activities are organized to pay tribute to books and authors and to encourage everyone to discover the pleasure of reading. One of the main objectives of this celebration is to make books available to the general public at discounted prices, thus inspire children and adults to read. Several activities are organised during the Festival, among others, exhibitions, quizzes, dictation, drawing competitions, poem recitals and spelling contests.

Since its inception in 1999, the National Library has left no stone unturned to raise awareness among students and the public at large on the important role which the National Library is called upon to play the socio-economic development of the country and in the information society. Thus guided visits to the different sections of the National Library are regularly organized for students of both primary and secondary schools. During the visits students are also given a slide presentation of an overview of the National Library and its services.

The National Library has staged several exhibitions such as :

1. The Sanctuary of Knowledge : An insight (2000)
2. The Carnegie Library, Curepipe
3. 100th Birth Anniversary of Sir Abdul Razack Mohamed (2006)
4. Auguste Lacaussade (2009)