Africa-Press – Angola. The Provincial Library of Luanda is committed to digitizing its collection, estimated at 39 thousand volumes, including books, documents and newspapers from pre- and post-colonial times, said Friday, the person responsible for this institution, Aldemira de Vasconcelos .
Speaking at the event that marked the institution’s 150 years of existence, Aldemira de Vasconcelos said that in view of the new era of information technologies, 500 volumes were digitized, with priority falling on old documents in an advanced state of degradation.
He informed that the library is developing a project to take reading to every corner of the province, so that each community has access to books.
Regarding concerns, Aldemira de Vasconcelos highlighted the lack of reading habits among citizens, a fact that led to the development of an action to encourage reading.
When opening the celebrations, the governor of Luanda, Manuel Homem, said that the moment represents, for the Provincial Government of Luanda, the rescue and preservation of the history and culture of Angola.
He considered the collection that the provincial library brings together to be important, as well as the relevance of research carried out by specialists, and more.
“Here we have history and what each of us must continue to preserve. The past is here, in the present”, he highlighted.
Manuel Homem reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing to preserve the history and space of knowledge in the province of Luanda, and beyond.
The former director of the Luanda Provincial Library (1983 to 2020), António Emídio de Brito, revealed that the library is the oldest in Africa south of the Sahara, with documents only existing in the institution, giving as an example the documents from the wars of Matamba and Ndongo, between the Portuguese and the Angolan people.
He mentioned that even with the evolution of new technologies, the book will never stop being a book, given its specificity.
He advised young people to invest more in developing their reading practice, visiting spaces that offer knowledge and intellectual growth.
The library’s 150th anniversary event includes an exhibition of collections, a book fair and a round table on the past, present and future of this institution.
The Luanda Provincial Library was founded on December 1, 1873.
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