National Library of Angola, National library in Luanda, Angola

The National Library of Angola is a national library in Luanda that holds between 20,000 and 30,000 items, including books, periodicals, and educational materials about the country. The facility provides reading rooms and research support for students, scholars, and members of the public.

The National Library of Angola was created by decree no. 49,448 of 27 December 1969, while the country was still under Portuguese rule, and was provisionally installed on the ground floor of the Overseas Education Services building. Its founding collection came from the Museum of Angola, the Angolan Scientific Research Institute and the complete holdings of the Central Education Library. Álvaro Fernando Aleixo Peres do Carmo Vaz took office as first director on 15 March 1971. After independence, decree no. 41/77 of 3 March 1977 gave the library a new legal statute.

The oldest publication held is the Diário do Governo, with issues dating from 1872. The library also keeps the complete collection of the former Central Library of Education, one of the founding collections transferred in 1969.

The library is accessible to visitors who wish to read and research in its spaces. It is helpful to check the operating hours in advance and learn what specific resources are available for your research interests.

The institution actively works to increase literacy rates across Angola, going beyond its basic role as an information source. This educational mission makes it serve as more than just a storage place for books.