National Heritage Library

The National Heritage Library (NHL) is located in Belmopan City. Since August 2006, this two-story, air-conditioned building, has housed over 40,000 books, reports, serials, microfilm, DVDs, CDs, and community information about Belize and our neighbors in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The National Collection consists of books, magazines, reports (topical and annual from NGOs, businesses, and government agencies), newsletters, government documents, local and national newspapers, posters/flyers, calendars, maps, agendas, house plans, funeral booklets. Within the collection are materials of various formats that date from as early as the mid-18th century to those published this week.

The Latin American and Caribbean collections consist of monographs and serials from all over these regions. Highlights within these collections include research-level English and Spanish-language books about the indigenous and African-descendent populations, magazines, and OAS reports.

NHL collects microfilm, which can be viewed with the microform reader on site. Pictured beside the reader are the Belize Billboard (1957-1962), and the Belize (British Honduras) Advertiser (1881 to 1889). Trained staff is available to assist library patrons who wish to view these resources.

In a constant effort to upgrade and preserve our holdings, NHL converts VHS broadcasts of Channel 5 and Channel 7 news, documentaries, biographies, and government proceedings. News broadcasts date from the mid-1990s and documentaries date from the 1980s.

NHL is presently undertaking a digitization project that involves the scanning and editing of rare and old books and images within our collections.

Below is a list of the type of materials within the National Collection:

1. Books

2. Reports [annual and quarterly] of select industries and Government Ministries

3. Newspapers (1885-present, dates inclusive):

4. Bibliographies

5. Journals – current and past

6. Magazines

7. Newsletters

8. Yearbooks

9. Conference papers

10. Telephone Directories

11. Manifestos

12. Speeches and addresses

13. Government Documents :

Acts
Bills
Government Gazettes (1878-present)
Ordinances
Statutory Instruments