The Seychelles National Library stands in the centre of Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles on Mahé. It is both the public library and the national library of the country, and as a legal deposit library it collects the literature published in the Seychelles. For visitors it is a quiet place away from the beaches, where you can discover a piece of the islands' cultural history.
What to expect
The building is not a classic tourist attraction but a living library for the local population. Visitors can browse books, read in peace and find out about the literature and history of the Seychelles. According to travel portals, the services also include internet access, copying and scanning.
The renovated building has a ground floor and two upper floors. Areas for children and adults, a cafeteria and an art gallery were planned. It is best to ask on the spot or by phone which of these are currently available.
History of the library
The predecessor, the Carnegie Library, opened on 22 January 1910. It was built with money from the Carnegie Trust Fund and run by a board of trustees. From 1970 the Ministry of Education managed it as the Carnegie Public Library. On 15 December 1978 it was declared the National Library of the Seychelles, and a year later it moved into a renovated building on State House Avenue.
The present site was built between 1991 and 1994. President France Albert René opened the new library on 18 June 1994. In August 2013 the building had to close because of a fungal infestation. Renovation began in February 2022 and took 16 months. The cost was 5.6 million US dollars, roughly 75 million Seychelles rupees. Around National Day at the end of June 2023, President Wavel Ramkalawan handed the keys to the cultural agency SNICHA. The library reopened to the public on 21 December 2023, initially with a limited stock of books, as new titles still had to be catalogued.
The original Carnegie building from 1910 was also restored and formally reopened in September 2024.
Getting there and location
The library is on Rue de la Possession in Victoria. The town centre is compact, so a visit combines easily with a stroll through the capital. Nearby you will find, among other places, the National Museum of History and the Natural History Museum.
Besides the main library on Mahé, there are branches on Praslin (Grand'Anse and Baie Sainte Anne) and on La Digue, as well as reading rooms at Pointe Larue and Anse Royale.
Practical information
The main library is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and on Saturday from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays. As times can change, it is worth making a quick call to +248 432 13 33 or sending an email to nls@gov.sc before you go.
A short stay of about an hour is enough. Modest dress and quiet conversation go without saying in a library. The best plan is a weekday morning, when you are in Victoria anyway, perhaps for the market or the museums.
