RENOVATIONS of the National Library and the National Archives of Namibia building in Windhoek, started last week will cost N$18,5 million.
This was revealed by the ministry of education’s spokesperson, Absalom Absalom, in a statement released on Tuesday. The library and archives share the same building. The renovations are expected to end March 2020.
The ministry received the funds from the African Development Bank to replace all of the water pipes, and upgrade structures of the building.
“The ministry of education has prioritised the renovation due to the frequent downtimes, that has been experienced by both institutions,” the statement reads.
Absalom added that the renovation is essential to ensure that the country’s documentary heritage is preserved for research and for posterity.
“The ministry of education wishes to inform the general public, students, researchers and other stakeholders that due to these renovations, there will be periodic interruptions to services from time to time and we will inform the public when the institutions will be inaccessible due to these renovation,” he stated.
The national library is a public research institution which contributes to the socio-economic, cultural, educational, scientific and innovative development of Namibia by collecting, recording, preserving and promoting access to the national documentary heritage nationally and internationally.
