KIGALI - The Kigali Public Library, which is under construction by Rotary Club Kigali Virunga, is set to be opened in late March next year.

This was revealed by Nils Zirimwabagabo, the President of the Rotary Club, during an interview with The New Times.

He said that the complex located in Kacyiru Sector in Gasabo District is currently 98 percent complete in terms of civil works, adding that what remains are final touches.

"The main objective of constructing this library is to fight against ignorance among Rwandans by promoting the culture of reading in the country,” Zirimwabagabo said.

He added that ignorance was among the key factors that contributed greatly to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Zirimwabagabo also revealed that the library was also constructed in order to get resources for research and other useful purposes.

He noted that the library run by the Rotary Club, will be the largest public library in East Africa and is expected to be completed at a tune of between $2-3 million.

He also said that the facility, with three floors, will have a capacity for 25,000 books in shelves and 20,000 others which will be kept in the stock.

According to Zirimwabagabo, 45,000 books are already in place adding that the management of the library will also enable readers to have online access to books from several parts of the world which will not be physically available at the library.

He added that after its completion, Rotary Club Kigali Virunga is planning to open other libraries across the country.

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