783 New Books Added to the African Books Collective

Posted August 13, 2026 in General Collections News, JMU Libraries News

The African Books Collective (ABC), a collection of over 2,000 ebooks published independently in Africa, has recently grown by 783 books!

JMU Libraries has partnered with VIVA (Virginia’s Academic Library Consortium) since 2024 to bring this resource to our campus. This initiative expands the global coverage of VIVA’s and JMU’s collections while enabling smaller publishers to build sustainable partnerships with libraries and consortia.

What’s in the collection? The ABC has something for everyone, featuring ebooks on African culture and studies, history, art, memoirs, education, poetry, politics, and more. These ebooks are published by various African scholarly and literary presses, children’s book publishers, research institutes, commercial and non-governmental organizations, activist organizations, and collectives.

How do I browse the ebooks? You can find ABC ebooks in our library catalog or the ABC database. The database allows you to browse by subject, explore catalogs, or search for specific titles or topics.

Who can benefit from this resource? The ABC collection is a valuable resource for JMU students and faculty across disciplines. With content relevant to multiple majors, minors, and courses, the collection provides perspectives that can broaden our understanding of the subjects we study and our global community.

Start reading: Explore the collection of ABC ebooks in our library catalog or browse the collection in the ABC database.