Libraries
Institute des Recherches des Sciences Humaines
There are two large libraries for serious research not for casual browsing, both of which only allow librarians to enter the room where books are kept to retrieve what you are looking for: Institute des Recherches des Sciences Humaines Humanities Research Institute, 227 20 735141 and the neighboring Centre d'Etudes Linguistique et Historiques par Tradition Orale Center for Linguistic Studies and Historical Oral Tradition, 227 20 735414. Both have nearly 20,000 titles, but, again, are not very formidable to casual browsing.
Centre Culturel Americain
The Centre Culturel Americain Rue de la Tapoa has a modest selection of English-language books mostly about the USA, a couple dozen magazines, and most of the time a small selection of newspapers often a week or two old. There is another library which mostly contains novels used by students taking English courses at the center; however, if you are carrying books with you that you no longer want, you could ask the librarian if you could swap for one of the books in the library. This center also hosts a weekly film usually in English w/French subtitles, although it's not as large a venue or spectacular a crowd as at the CCFN or CCOG.
CCFN
The CCFN see above contains a large library in French. There is an impressive collection of French-language books about Niger found in a separated part of this library and with slightly different hours called the "Centre des Resources Documentaires".
Other activities
Swimming Pools
Most of Niamey's hotels with swimming pools allow non-guests to use the pool for a small fee often a couple thousand francs. The best are at Hotel Gaweye & Grand Hotel, whose pools have a scenic view over the River Niger. There are public swimming pools beside Hotel la Fluviale 1,000F & beside Hotel Sahel the "Picine Olympique", 1,000F. Ask to see the pool first to avoid paying for a dirty pool.
The Hippodrome
Go out for an afternoon at the races at the hippodrome. A race is held Saturday afternoons around 17h or so, and it's free to get in. Go for the ambience, the pageantry, and if you like, make a wager.
Stade de la Lutte Traditionelle
You need a fair bit of luck to run into these traditional wrestling matches, as they are only held a few times every year, and can by law only be organized when crops are good. When they do, it's by far the most popular sport, and with a 2000 year history also the oldest. In the main national tournament each of Niger's eight regions sends 10 leather loincloth clad fighters to face of the 20 diameter ring. The first to fall, or even touch a knee to the ground, loses the match. Most matches are about 12 minutes long though they can last just a few seconds. Even if you are not into sports the cultural aspects; like like opening prayer, praise poems, salutations, gift giving, traditional charms and the enthronement of the champion should keep you well occupied.
music performances
The CCFN & CCOG see above frequently host concerts and with capacities of a few thousand, they can be quite lively. At the Centre Pour la Formation et Promotion Musicales CFPM there is a Rap Zone Every Wednesday night at 4:30 . Often there are people just jamming underneath the trees. They sell instruments, and they give drum, dance, and guitar lessons. At the restaurant Djoumkoume in Chateau Un there is live music almost every night, starting around 8 or 9pm. Sometimes there is a 1000-2000F cover. To get there, take a taxi to Pharmacie Chateau Un. Then, instead of taking a right to go to Idrissa Nems, you take a left. Youâll see it on your left.