The role of genocide in the development of libraries and librarianship in Rwanda

Abstract

Human conflict has to a great degree harmed Africa for a very long time. Libraries being living organisms, have always had to bear the impact of the conflict. The 1994 Rwandan genocide can best be characterized as one of the most brutal conflicts in recent memory. It left some librarians imprisoned, others were killed, while others fled into exile. In spite of this tragedy, this genocide seems to have become a turning point for libraries and librarianship in Rwanda. It created the awakening of libraries in Rwanda and several projects have been established, including building the first ever truly public library. However, of great importance is being able to develop human resources to shape the destiny of these libraries that are serving clientele with diverse cultural and linguistic orientation. In 2001, a Library and Information Science program was established and has since strived to produce bilingual and multilingual librarians. The use of French and English in teaching students undertaking Library and Information Science has been a challenge. However, with globalization, being characteristic of our society, the Rwandan Model of educating librarians ought to be given consideration by other library schools. This paper will discuss how the 1994 Rwandan genocide played a role in shaping libraries and the effort to educate bilingual and multilingual librarians in Rwanda.