Chinese aid and the library development in Africa

The recent relations between China and Africa are much debated topic in international socio economic and geopolitics. There are many different opinions about the Chinese presence in the African continent. Some see it as a ray of hope for the African sustainable development and other contested it as a form of ‘neo-colonism’. It is further argued that the along with other form of China-Africa relationship, countries in Africa can be benefitted from the ‘Chinese Aid’ beyond the trade or infrastructure development. In this context this study tries to investigate the Chinese contribution in library development in many countries of Africa. Taking various secondary sources, particularly the newspaper content analysis, this study has identified a few cases where China has invested for the library development in Africa. It is observed that, Chinese aid in African library development comes in three types. In the first type, Chinese government directly involved in the construction of library, in the second type Chinses multinational firms are donating books and other e-learning materials to the schools and libraries. In the third type, Chinese non-governmental organizations donating books and other materials to the local schools and communities. Along with other form of China Africa relations, Chinese aid in the library development in Africa will perhaps enhance learning, capacity building, mutual trust, and friendly relationship. In the long run, this will be a win-win situation for both the sides to further enhance the South-South cooperation and above all the development of the whole continent.