The Afghanistan Center at Kabul University (ACKU) is the only in-country comprehensive collection of Afghan focused research material.  Given the increasing digitalization of knowledge, the modernization of the collection has been a critical priority for the center.  To digitalize and preserve the collection, and facilitate greater global connections and capabilities, USAID is providing new equipment and expanded services for ACKU. What would be commonplace in most research centers is groundbreaking for Afghanistan. In addition, with USAID assistance, ACKU was able to purchase essential books and materials for the collection, including rare books documenting the Taliban era.  Two new scanners have expanded the capacity to digitalize the collection, doubling the daily output, and vastly improving the quality of the archives. Additionally, a higher speed internet connection and four new public computers facilitate operations and expand opportunities for international communication and networking.   Catalogue officers are now expanding their services, uploading the newest materials and permitting ACKU clients to access digitalized materials for the first time.  Utilization of library call numbers online will assure effective organization as the catalogue expands.  Finally, to deepen transparency and accountability, a newly hired finance and administration manager will begin work to strengthen the ACKU financial system and financial reporting.

An online catalog custodian commented on the changes, “ACKU has extended its services through its website for its users by creating an online catalog system. This current catalog bibliography is a guide to ACKU’s more than 20,000 titles, a total of 60,000 volumes.”

The ACKU was originally established in 1989 in Peshawar, Pakistan, during the unstable period of the Soviet occupation in Afghanistan. It was transferred to the Central Library of Kabul University in July 2006 where it remains today as a foundational resource for Afghan students and academics. Kabul University and the Ministry of Higher Education have contributed funding and land for a new facility planned to open in May 2011.