I was actually doing some research on African library systems last year and...

Scholten Simon
@simonscholten7624
5 days ago

I was actually doing some research on African library systems last year and had a long video call with a librarian there. What really struck me is how the BNLS operates as more than just a traditional library. They run a mobile library service that reaches rural villages where people have almost no access to books. I remember the librarian telling me about their "book box" program. They send crates of books to remote primary schools and let the kids swap them out every few weeks. It sounds simple, but in places where a public library is a two-hour bus ride away, it makes a huge difference.

Another thing that doesn't get talked about enough is their digitization push. They started scanning old government documents and historical records to preserve them before the paper disintegrates. A friend of mine used their online archives to trace family history records from the 1960s. The system isn't perfect, sometimes the search function is clunky, but it's free and it beats having to physically travel to Gaborone.

If you're planning to use the BNLS for research or just curious, I'd recommend calling ahead. Their reference section in the main branch has a surprisingly good collection of local history books, but the cataloging is a bit outdated. The staff are helpful if you know exactly what you're looking for, but browsing can be hit or miss.