Phnom Penh National Library

The library is tiny, it was established in 1924 by the French and became the National Library of Cambodia 1954.  During the Khmer Rouge regime (1975-1979) most of the library staff died, miraculously 40% of the collection survived and stills holds a collection of rare palm leaf manuscripts and a valuable old French collection.  The National Library was re-opened in 1980.  It has a small lending collection, as there is no public library!  As you can see in the photos, they still use card catalogues.  Only a couple of drawers are actually full, the rest remain empty.  The librarians were lovely (you can see them waving from the desk) but they are very sad about the lack of books they have.