Essay/Term paper: Informatinn on black libraries

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Social Issues

Informatinn on Black Libraries


Namibia Resource Centre Southern Africa Library

The Library

The library's collection of books focuses primarily on southern Africa and
publications originating from the region. Its holdings of publications printed
in Namibia since the early 1950s are probably the most extensive outside Africa.
The collection contains publications in European and African languages and
emphasises the social sciences and humanities. The rare-book collection of early
accounts of European explorations covers the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.
Special attention is being given to material documenting the history of the
Swiss in Africa.

The collection of periodicals includes both colonial and current titles, some of
which are not to be found in other institutions in Switzerland. Current
periodicals from southern Africa include newspapers, community newsletters,
business bulletins and scientific journals.

The collection of bibliographies is intended to cover all major geographic
regions and subject issues concerning sub-Saharan Africa. They enable us to
maintain the original purpose of the institution, i.e. to provide
bibliographical information to researchers and others interested in Africa.

The Archives

The archival collection consists of several sections. One section primarily
holds personal papers of individuals from Namibia and Switzerland. Another
section consists of press cuttings and grey literature (pamphlets, reports,
posters, etc.) from southern Africa and includes material from various Anti-
Apartheid movements. Printed material concerning "SWAPO of Namibia" is regarded
as extensive. In addition, a small collection of historical photographs from
Namibia is being kept. The map collection contains 800 maps on Namibia, at
present on loan to the Institute of Geography of the University of Basel.
Reference guides on all archival holdings are available to researchers.

The Publications

Our own publications form part of our effort to promote knowledge and encourage
research on Africa. Since 1971 more than 70 titles have been published, some of
which are now considered to be standard texts on their subject.

The series published by the BAB are:

"Communications from the Basel Africa Bibliography"
"Beitraege zur Afrikakunde"
"Geomethodica"
Reference guides on the archival holdings of the BAB.

Occasional publications include dissertations, reprints, and working papers.

Bibliophiles will find out second-hand bookshop particularly attractive. It has
become a meeting point of people interested in Africa and a window ot the street
inviting passers-by to come in, browse through the shelves and have a chat.

Basler Afrika Bibliographien

The Basler Afrika Bibliographien (BAB) houses the only Namibia Resource Centre
in Europe and the only Southern Africa Library in Switzerland. Established in
1971 by Carl Schlettwein as a private research institution, it forms today part
of a foundation whose aim it is to encourage research on Africa in general and
southern Africa in particular.

Our institution collects a wide range of published and unpublished materials and
publishes scholarly works on Africa. We maintain links with scholars and
institutions in and outside Africa and regularly invite researchers for lectures.


Opening Hours

The premises of the Basler Afrika Bibliographien are open to the public: Tuesday
- Friday: 14:00 - 18:00 By prior arrangement the premises can be visited at
other times as well.

All materials from the library and archives must be used on the premises. Books
are not issued on loan. On request, the staff will photocopy material.