Founded in 1989, Biblionef’s goal is to supply new or gently-used books to disadvantaged children and teenagers to support their development. The books are gifts from publishers or are purchased at advantageous prices from surplus inventories of new books for young people that would otherwise be destroyed.
The association analyzes requirements in detail, selects suitable books using a regularly updated catalogue, systematically assesses the effectiveness of its projects, and handles all of the logistics, including warehousing, tracking and order preparation, which are centralized in Strasbourg.
Drawing on its knowledge of Niger, Biblionef proposed a program to the AREVA Corporate Foundation for a gift of books to strengthen the resources of organizations that promote reading in that country.
A gift of 10,000 books was given to replenish the young reader section of the media library of the Franco-Nigerien Cultural Center in Zinder, which lost all of its 18,000 books in a fire.
Some 5,000 books equip 10 youth clubs, also called “second-chance schools”, in Niamey, Arlit, Tchirozerine, Tessaoua, Konni and Tera, where thousands of children and teenagers go.
Together with Biblionef, and in concert with the heads of the organizations receiving them, the necessary number of books which best correspond to the needs of young readers are chosen from the association's catalogue.
Niger does not have a national library or a book policy.
Only three libraries in the country correspond to western criteria.
On the other hand, there is considerable interest in reading in the schools, universities and some cultural and intellectual centers, which are largely under-equipped, and the needs are everywhere.
With no publishing industry or commercial distribution network for books, book- and reading-related projects are entirely based on donations.