National Library of Mauritius

The National Library of Mauritius is housed on the second floor of the Fon Sing Building and holds more than 500,000 items available to the public. The collection includes books, newspapers, magazines, audio recordings, and video materials spanning subjects from agriculture to religion and many fields in between.

The library was established through the National Library Act in 1996 and opened to the public in January 2000. It was created to serve as a central repository for knowledge and information resources needed by the nation.

The library serves as a keeper of the island's cultural memory, holding materials that reflect the diverse heritage and traditions of Mauritian society. Visitors encounter collections spanning multiple languages and perspectives that show how communities have shaped this place over time.

The library welcomes visitors during regular weekday hours, and staff can be reached by phone to answer questions about the collections or help navigate the building. Plan to spend some time exploring the different sections since the collection is extensive.

The collection holds documents dating back to 1777, spanning over two centuries of the island's recorded history. This deep time collection allows visitors to trace the development of the nation through government reports, almanacs, and other archival records rarely seen elsewhere.

Location: Port Louis

Inception: 1996

Official opening: January 2000

Address: Fon Sing Building, 12 Edith Cavell Street, Port Louis, Mauritius

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 09:00-16:00; Saturday 09:00-12:00

Phone: +2302119891

Website: http://national-library.govmu.org

GPS coordinates: -20.16453,57.50034

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:24