The University of Khartoum Library is considered one of the most prestigious libraries in Africa and the Middle East. This history of the library dates back to 1902, which coincided with the founding of the University of Khartoum.

The library has become a living memory of the history of Sudan, operating as a major repository of important cultural records. It contains many books and manuscripts, some of which date back to two centuries ago. Its founding collection items were originally gifted by the British Governor at that time and by a number of Sudanese personalities. Perhaps the most famous of these donations was the gift of the first psychiatrist in Sudan, Professor Al-Tijani Al-Mahi, from his personal library, which contains about 4,000 books in various disciplines. Similarly, donated by Dr Muhammad Saleh Al-Shanqiti was his entire library, including a number of rare antiques. Thus, the University of Khartoum Library became both a library and a museum, open to all society inside and outside Sudan. The library provides its services and facilities to all students, researchers, faculty members and most groups of the university community.

The University of Khartoum Library consists of the main (central) library, that serves the faculties of the Central Complex, in addition to the Library of Medical and Health Sciences in the Medical and Health Sciences Complex,  Shambat Library that serves the faculties of Shambat complex, the Library of the College of Education at the Education Complex in Omdurman, in addition to many branch libraries of some of the university’s colleges and institutes. In addition to this, occupying its own separate building, is the Sudan Library, that specialises in Sudanese studies. It is considered an integral part of the main library and is the part that serves as a repository for all publications in Sudan, since the legal deposit decision in 1966. Repository publications include that published by Sudanese writers, in addition to publications and writings from abroad that concern or refer to Sudan.

In 2018 the University of Khartoum Library was one of the first sites for delivery of scanning equipment and training through the Sudan Memory project.

What is presented here is a selection of scanned materials that showcases this collection. For more information on the collection, please contact the collection contributor.