For Abdirahim Nor, the Somali National Library (SNL) is not just a building; it is a promise. He still remembers the day he was recruited as one of the first of a new generation of staff after the civil war. Walking through the partially ruined halls, he felt a mix of “profound sadness and an incredible sense of responsibility.”
Every corner, he recalls, “held memories of what once was, and glimpses of what could be again.”
His journey is at the heart of a renewed, passionate effort to reclaim a cornerstone of the nation’s identity. The Somali National Library-SNL was once a vital hub of knowledge and culture, a “guardian of a country’s intellectual heritage,” as defined by UNESCO. Opened in 1976 through a collaboration between the Somali government, UNESCO, and UNDP, it grew into a vibrant center for scholars, students, and writers – a symbol of Somalia’s intellectual strength.
When the civil war erupted in 1991, the library became a casualty of the chaos. Books were looted or burned, precious manuscripts were lost, and the building itself was severely damaged. During the fighting, it was used as a dhufeys, or shelter, by armed groups. For nearly 25 years that followed, it served as a refuge for internally displaced people, its halls of knowledge silenced.
After the war, efforts to rebuild were slow and fraught with challenges. While other national institutions were gradually restored, the SNL had not yet reopened. In 2012, Somali diaspora members, led by Zainab Hassan, began efforts to restore it. In 2017, a key step was taken when the Minister of Education appointed a new General Director.
It was in mid-2017 that Abdirahim Nor heard about an interview to recruit temporary staff. The decision to apply was not easy.
“When I told my family, they were worried,” Abdirahim writes. “They warned me not to work for a government organization because of the ongoing threat from extremists like Al-Shabaab, who considered anyone working in government as a Murtad.” Despite the fears, he felt compelled to join.
Abdirahim was one of about twenty young, energetic graduates from inside Somalia and abroad who were hired. He sat for his interview with four panelists, including the new General Director, Mohamed Shill. Abdirahim succeeded and was appointed as the Director of Planning, and later, the Director of Library Services.
This small, passionate team became the first to attempt to rebuild the library in thirty years.
“Our initial tasks were small but meaningful,” Abdirahim recalls. “We tried to acquire books, organize them, and build new shelves.”
The work was a learning process. “We were learning as we went, doing everything unprofessionally but passionately, because no one had experience with modern library services in Somalia.”
Slowly, their efforts bore fruit. Books began to fill shelves, and students returned to read what was available. On some days, they even hosted reading clubs. Life was returning to the dormant building.
This grassroots revival was bolstered in 2019 when the government launched Is-Xilqaan, a national program aimed at rebuilding national memory, which included the National Library, the National Museum, and the National Theatre.
For Abdirahim, the hands-on work inspired a deeper academic mission. His passion for literacy—which also led him to found the Ilays Library Initiatives, a community library movement—took him to Uganda in 2023. He enrolled in a Master’s in Information Science at Makerere University, one of Africa’s top institutions.
While initially planning to research literacy in Uganda, a new idea struck him. “What if I wrote something that could help my own country,” he asked, “especially the Somali National Library?”
Encouraged by his classmates, his new research, “Revitalizing Somali National Library: Challenges and Opportunities,” was born.
Today, Abdirahim’s dream is clear: to see the SNL restored as a hub for students, researchers, and all citizens. It is a critical need in a country that, despite having over 500 universities, still suffers from a scarcity of professional libraries and trained librarians.
Rebuilding the library, he insists, is about “restoring civic memory, identity, and access to knowledge.”
“Rebuilding the Somali National Library is not just about restoring a building; it’s about reclaiming our nation’s memory and identity,” Abdirahim states. “Every effort counts, from preserving manuscripts to inspiring young readers, because knowledge is the foundation of Somalia’s future.”