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| National Library of Tunisia | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Library of Tunisia |
| Native name | Bibliothèque nationale de Tunisie |
| Established | 1885 |
| Location | Tunis |
| Collection size | over 6 million items |
National Library of Tunisia
The National Library of Tunisia serves as the principal legal deposit and research library in Tunis, preserving the documentary heritage of Tunisia and the Maghreb. It functions as a central repository for manuscripts, printed works, periodicals and audiovisual materials connected to Tunisian history and culture, interacting with institutions such as the Ministry of Cultural Affairs (Tunisia), the University of Tunis and international bodies like the UNESCO and the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The library's holdings underpin scholarship across studies in Tunis, Carthage, Ibn Khaldun, Arab–Islamic history, and modern literary figures including Aboul-Qacem Echebbi and Tahar Haddad.
The library traces its institutional origins to the colonial-era collections formed under the French Protectorate of Tunisia and earlier Ottoman-era archives, with foundations contemporaneous to 19th-century reforms linked to figures such as Sadok Bey and events like the Treaty of Bardo (1881). During the 20th century the institution was shaped by personalities and movements including the intelligentsia of Tunisian nationalism, associations such as the Destour Party and post-independence cultural policy led by administrations within the Habib Bourguiba era. Its development involved partnerships and exchanges with Institut Pasteur de Tunis, the École supérieure de commerce de Tunis, European libraries in Paris, Madrid, Rome, and collections transferred from colonial administrative archives like those tied to the Protectorate administration. Modern reorganizations aligned the library with national legal deposit laws and international standards promoted by International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions and Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization.
The library houses manuscripts, rare books, periodicals, newspapers, photographs, maps, sound recordings and audiovisual archives related to Tunisian literature, Maghreb, Andalusian heritage, and Ottoman Empire records. Notable components include Arabic manuscripts connected to scholars like Ibn Khaldun and Ibn Abi Zar, Ottoman-era registers linking to provincial governors, European travel accounts by figures such as Gustave Flaubert and Alexandre Dumas, and colonial-era documents referencing administrations like the French Protectorate of Tunisia. The periodical collection preserves titles from the 19th and 20th centuries tied to movements including the Jasmin Revolution and newspapers associated with political figures like l'Expression journalists. Holdings extend to cartographic material featuring maps of Carthage, ethnographic photographs from expeditions linked to Paul Gauckler and musical archives reflecting repertoires of Malouf and performances by ensembles associated with the Rachidia institution.
The main facility in Tunis comprises reading rooms, conservation laboratories, exhibition halls and storage stacks designed to house diverse media. Architectural influences draw upon colonial-era public buildings in the medina and modernist projects from the post-independence period, echoing types seen in the Cathédrale Saint-Louis de Carthage vicinity and administrative complexes near Avenue Habib Bourguiba. Facilities support conservation techniques shared with institutions such as the Bibliothèque nationale de France and regional partners in Algeria and Morocco. The site includes climate-controlled repositories for manuscripts, digitization studios equipped with scanners and audio digitization gear, and public spaces for lectures and temporary exhibits related to collections on display from donors such as the families of Abdelaziz Thâalbi.
Services include reference and research assistance, interlibrary loan collaborations with the University of Carthage, bibliographic services tied to national legal deposit, and public programming such as exhibitions, lectures, and author readings featuring writers like Ali Douagi and Moncef Marzouki. Educational outreach targets schools affiliated with the Ministry of Education (Tunisia) and cultural centers including the Carthage Film Festival and the International Festival of Carthage. Specialized programs support scholarly projects in collaboration with research centers such as the Centre national de la recherche scientifique et technique (Tunisia) and archives projects referencing figures like Salah Ben Youssef.
The library operates under statutory frameworks established by Tunisian cultural policy and legal deposit regulations administered through ministries and national cultural agencies, interacting with registries and international frameworks including UNESCO directives on documentary heritage. Governance involves directors, curators and administrative staff collaborating with academic partners such as the Higher Institute of Documentation (Tunis) and cultural institutions like the National Theatre of Tunisia. Funding and oversight combine state allocations, project grants, and international cooperation agreements with partners in France, Italy, Germany, and regional bodies such as the Arab League.
Digitization initiatives address fragile manuscripts, newspapers and audiovisual collections through scanning projects, digital repositories and metadata schemes interoperable with platforms promoted by UNESCO and the World Digital Library. Preservation practices include conservation treatments, rehousing of Ottoman and Arabic codices, and climate-controlled storage informed by training from the Bibliothèque nationale de France and preservation networks in North Africa. Collaborative digitization grants have linked the library with universities in Paris, Rome and research projects cataloguing collections related to figures such as Ibn Khaldun and archival series from the Protectorate administration.
As a national memory institution the library supports scholarship in Tunisian studies, Maghrebi culture, Islamic manuscripts and modern literary movements, hosting exhibitions coinciding with commemorations for personalities like Habib Bourguiba and events such as Independence of Tunisia. It partners with festivals including the Carthage Film Festival and academic symposia held at the University of Tunis and international conferences with participation by scholars from institutions such as the École pratique des hautes études and the Collège de France, reinforcing its role in public humanities, cultural heritage promotion, and lifelong learning.
Category:Libraries in Tunisia Category:National libraries