Mzuzu University Library -Malawi
Destroyed by fire in 2015
The Mzuzu University Library, Malawi was destroyed by a fierce electrical fire that led to the loss of all its collections and ICT equipment. Specifically, 53,000 books, 68 desktops computers, 403 reading chairs, 62 reading tables, 111 shelves, three heavy duty photocopiers, eight printers and other countless valuable items were destroyed. The total value of items damaged is MK5, 891,214,532 (Approximately $7,854,952) 1
Fire Initiative to rebuild and restock the library was undertaken 2
Felix Majawa, Librarian at the Mzuzu University Library, worked with the Scotland Malawi Partnership to co-ordinate efforts to respond to the disaster by appealing for donations of books, equipment and funds to help re-stock and rebuild the library, and to ensure temporary provision for students at the University.
Additional source information:
Chavula, J. 2015. Fire guts Mzuni library. The Nation. 19 December. [Online].(19 December 2015).
Kanyangale, MacDonald, & Njoloma, Eugenio. (2020). Relational-based resilience of a public university: a case study on losing a library by Mzuzu University in Malawi. South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 86(1), 14-26.
Chawinga, Winner Dominic, and Felix Majawa. 2018. “An Assessment of Mzuzu University Library after a Fire Disaster.” African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science 28 (2): 183-194.
This is particularly sad because there is so little written material available on that part of the world.