Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a major library and cultural center located in Alexandria, Egypt, near the site of the ancient Library of Alexandria. It was built to commemorate the ancient Library of Alexandria, which was a renowned center of scholarship and learning in the ancient world, attracting Aristarchus of Samos, Eratosthenes, and Archimedes. The modern library was inaugurated in 2002 by Hosni Mubarak, UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura, and other dignitaries, including Nile University Rector Yahya El-Sayed, and American University in Cairo President John D. Gerhart.

History

The idea of rebuilding the Library of Alexandria was first proposed by Mostafa El-Abbadi, a University of Alexandria professor, in 1974, and gained support from Egyptian Ministry of Culture officials, including Farouk Hosny, and UNESCO representatives, such as Federico Mayor Zaragoza. The Egyptian Government and UNESCO collaborated on the project, with contributions from Alexandria University, the American University in Cairo, and other institutions, including the British Library, the Library of Congress, and the National Library of France. The construction of the library began in 1995, and it was officially opened on October 16, 2002, in the presence of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura, and other dignitaries, including Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz, and Cairo University President Mohamed El-Khosht.

Architecture

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina was designed by the Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta, in collaboration with Egyptian architect Mohamed Awad, and the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. The building's unique design, which features a large disk-shaped roof, was inspired by the sun, and is meant to evoke the ancient Egyptian sun god Ra. The library's design also incorporates elements of Islamic architecture, such as the use of arches and domes, and features a large reading room with a capacity for over 2,000 readers, including students from Ain Shams University, Cairo University, and Alexandria University. The building's design has been praised for its innovative and futuristic style, which reflects the modern and cosmopolitan spirit of Alexandria, a city that has been influenced by Greek, Roman, and Arab cultures, and has been home to famous scholars, including Euclid, Archimedes, and Ibn Yunus.

Collections

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina has a vast collection of over 500,000 books, including rare and valuable volumes, such as the Nag Hammadi library, and the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are also housed in the Israel Museum and the Vatican Library. The library also has a large collection of manuscripts, including works by famous Arab and Islamic scholars, such as Ibn Sina, Ibn Rushd, and Al-Khwarizmi, as well as Greek and Roman authors, including Aristotle, Plato, and Euclid. The library's collections also include a large number of periodicals, newspapers, and journals, including Al-Ahram, Al-Hayat, and The Egyptian Gazette, as well as digital resources, such as e-books and databases, which are also available at the British Library, the Library of Congress, and the National Library of Australia.

Services

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina offers a range of services to its users, including research assistance, reference services, and interlibrary loan services, which allow users to borrow materials from other libraries, including the New York Public Library, the Boston Public Library, and the National Library of Canada. The library also provides training and workshops for librarians and researchers, and hosts conferences and seminars on topics related to library science, information technology, and cultural heritage preservation, in collaboration with institutions such as the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Council on Library and Information Resources. The library's services are available to users from all over the world, including students and faculty from Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Oxford.

Revival_and_Renovation

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is not only a library, but also a cultural center and a symbol of the revival of Alexandria as a center of learning and culture. The library's construction was part of a larger effort to revitalize the city of Alexandria, which has a rich history and cultural heritage, and has been influenced by Greek, Roman, and Arab cultures, and has been home to famous scholars, including Euclid, Archimedes, and Ibn Yunus. The library's design and construction were also influenced by the UNESCO-sponsored Alexandria Declaration, which called for the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage in the Mediterranean region, and has been supported by institutions such as the European Union, the World Bank, and the Ford Foundation.

Cultural_Significance

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina has significant cultural and symbolic importance, both in Egypt and around the world, and has been recognized by institutions such as the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, the Prince Claus Award, and the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education. It represents a bridge between the ancient and the modern, and between East and West, and has been praised by scholars and leaders, including Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura. The library has also become a symbol of Egyptian culture and identity, and a source of national pride, and has been featured in publications such as Al-Ahram, The New York Times, and Le Monde, and has been visited by dignitaries, including French President Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, and Chinese President Hu Jintao. Category:Libraries in Egypt