//
THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF CUREPIPE
Address: Queen Elizabeth II Avenue Curepipe • Phone No.: (230) 670-6733 / 670-4897/99 / 674-2287 • Fax No.: (230) 676-5054 / 676-5058 /
674-2287 • Email: curpip@intnet.mu or carnegiemcc@gmail.com
Mr Abdool Cader NUNKOO
LIBRARIAN
Mrs. Premila ISSUR
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In 1913, Andrew Carnegie founded the Carnegie
United Kingdom Trust (CUKT). Carnegie Libraries are libraries which were built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Thus, Carnegie Library in Curepipe was established by the Carnegie Foun- dation in 1917. It is well-known for its manuscript collection and its collection of Indian Ocean Islands books
The Carnegie Library is located in the centre of the town of Curepipe. Its construction started in
1917 by Messrs. Hall, Genève and Langlois. On
30th June 1917, the first stone as laid by Sir Henry Hesketh Bell, Governor of Mauritius. In January
1920, the library was opened to the public.
MISSION AND VISION STATEMENTS
– The library provides access to a wide range of
books and periodicals. We aim at offering equal and easy access to all existing services and facilities for the purpose of education, culture, research, information and leisure.
– To provide a library for intellectual and personal enrichment.
– To empower users in the information age.
– To be a dynamic entre for knowledge and lifelong learning.
The Carnegie Library works in collaboration with the National Library of Mauritius, Institut de Maurice (IFM), Centre Culturel Africain, National Archives of Mauritius, and other Municipalities to promote reading and encourage the public to use materials from the Carnegie Library.
CUREPIPE CARNEGIE LIBRARY ACT
The Carnegie Library is the only municipal library in the local authorities which has its own Curepipe Carnegie Library Act (Regulations amended in October 2014).
In order to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for reading, learning and other library activities, all visitors are required to comply with the Rules and Regulations in the Act.
LIBRARY COLLECTION
Today, the library boasts a collection of over 75,000
documents, out of which some 15,000 comprise of IOI books (including the rare collections and manuscripts).
The Carnegie Library is world famous for its manuscripts, original letters of eminent historical personalities like Mahé de La Bourdonnais, Matthew Flinders, old documents dating back to 17th and
18th Centuries and many other rare and ancient collections commonly known as “D’Epinay” and “Rouillard”.
Almost all existing publications are either in English or French, except for a few in oriental languages.
LIBRARY SERVICES
Lending Services
The library has adult and junior sections with a good collection of 20,000 books in English and French including books from Mauritian authors available for registered members only. Reference books for children are also available for on spot consultation. Magazines for children can be taken on loan also.
Reference Service
A collection over 40,000 books comprise of dictionaries, encyclopedias, subjects ranging from Computer Science, Philosophy, Religion, Social Science, Linguistics, Pure and Applied Science, Arts, Literature and History. This consultation service in opened to members or non-members upon presentation of Student Buss Pass or National Identity Card
Photocopy Service
Library materials can be photocopied upon request to the library staff. All copying done is subject to the Copyright Act. A fee of Rs 1.50 is charged per A4 copy.
The Cybercafé is open from 9.00hrs to 17.00hrs on weekdays and from 9.00 hrs to 12.00hrs on Saturdays. Four personal computers are in operation in the library, using ADSL technology. A fee of 50 cents per minute is charged for Internet access as well as for the use of Microsoft Word or Excel, etc. Forty minutes free internet access and computer use is allocated to students and senior citizens. Printing service is charged Rs 3.00 per copy for black and white printing.
Free WI-FI connection is also available in the library.
Indian Ocean Islands (IOI) Collection
A collection of 15,000 works by Mauritian authors including the rare collections and manuscripts from available for consultation only.
Reading Area
The library subscribes to about 17 local newspaper titles and 80 latest periodicals both local and foreign. The most recent issues are displayed on the open rack. Back issues of periodicals are lent to registered members.
Manuscript and Rare Document Collections
It consists mainly of D’Epinayand Rouillard collections. There are 69 manuscripts in our collection,
400 titles for the D’Epinay collection and 365 titles for the Rouillard collection. Reference of these documents can be done from 9.00 hrs to 16.00 hrs during weekdays only. Photocopy, photography and recording of the manuscripts and rare documents are not permissible without prior autorisation from the Council.
The Council has already published the following manuscripts:
– My Dear Friend: The Flinders-Pitot Correspondence (1803-1814) in 2003, edited by Prof. M.S. Rivière
– La Plume et L’Épée: Mémoires de Mahéde La Bourdonnais (1740-1742) in 2005, edited by Prof. M.S. Rivière
– Codes Noirs et autres documents concernant l’esclavage (1671-1762) in 2009, edited by Prof. M.S. Rivière
HOW TO JOIN THE LIBRARY?
The library is open to the public regardless of his/her residential place. To borrow books/periodicals, a person has to become a member by filling the application form and paying the appropriate fees. The library charges a deposit fee of Rs 100 per book and Rs 50 for two periodicals which are refundable upon cancellation of membership.
The annual subscription fee is free for the inhabitants of the town of Curepipe whereas an annual fee of Rs 50 is payable for books and Rs30 for periodicals by the non-resident.
Books and periodicals can be borrowed for a period of fifteen days and a fine of Rs 1.00 per day per book/periodical. Books/periodicals can also be renewed twice by phone.
NEW BOOKS ON LOAN 06 AUGUST 2016
//
