The Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Overview
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina , the New Library of Alexandria, is dedicated to recapture the spirit of the original. It aspires to be:
- The World’s window on Egypt;
- Egypt’s window on the world;
- A leading institution of the digital age; and above all
- A center for learning, tolerance, dialogue and understanding.
To fulfill that role, the new complex is much more than a library. It contains:
- A library that can hold millions of books;
- A center for the Internet and its archive;
- Six specialized libraries for:
- Audio-visual materials
- The visually impaired
- Children
- The young
- Microforms
- Rarebooks and special collection;
- Three Museums for
- Antiquities
- Manuscripts
- The history of science;
- A Planetarium;
- An ALEXploratorium for children’s exhibitions;
- Two permanent exhibitions;
- Six art galleries for temporary exhibitions;
- A conference center for thousands of persons;
- Seven research institutes covering:
- Manuscripts
- Documentation of heritage
- Calligraphy and writing
- Information sciences
- Mediterranean and Alexandrian studies
- Arts Center
- Scientific research
- A discussion forum.
Today, this vast complex is a reality
receiving more than 800,000 visitors a year
