The Samoa Public Library, also known as the Nelson Memorial Public Library, is the main

public library A public library is a library that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also Civil service, civil servants. There are ...

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono Island, Manono an ...

. It is in the capital

Apia Apia () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Samoa, as well as the nation's only city. It is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoa's second-largest island. Apia falls within the political district (''itūmālō ...

on the island of

Upolu Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long and in area, making it the second largest of the Samoan Islands by area. With approximatel ...

and is sometimes referred to as Apia Library. Library services in Samoa are administered by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture.

History

The library was set up in 1956 with the current building on Beach Road officially opened in 1960. Funding for the building was received from the Samoa government,

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

and the family of patriot, Mau leader and businessman

Olaf Frederick Nelson Ta'isi Olaf Frederick Nelson (24 February 1883 – 28 February 1944) was a Samoan businessman and politician. He was one of the founding leaders of the anti-colonial Mau movement. Biography Nelson was born on 24 February 1883 in Safune on th ...

. The library is named in Nelson's honour.

Savai'i branch

Savai'i Public Library is the only branch of the central library, in

Salelologa Salelologa is a village district at the east end of Savai'i island in Samoa. It is the main entry point into the island with the only ferry terminal on Savai'i. It also serves as the main township for shopping and public amenities with a market s ...

on the island of Savai'i.

References

External links

Library Association of Samoa website
Education in Samoa Libraries in Samoa 1956 establishments in Western Samoa Trust Territory Libraries established in 1956 Library buildings completed in 1960 Buildings and structures in Apia {{Samoa-stub