Member Detail: Library of Alexandria

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, (Library of Alexandria) is an Egyptian institution of international

character devoted to the promotion of enlightened values, good governance, and sustainable

development in Egypt and the Arab world, as well as elsewhere in the world. The Bibliotheca

Alexandrina (BA) issues an annual report and audited accounts. It is governed by an international

Board of Trustees, and is not part of the Egyptian Government. It is established by a special law

(law No. 1 for 2001) that attaches it to the head of state.

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 (i) audio-visual materials, (ii) the visually impaired, (iii) children,

  (iv) the young, (v) microforms, and (vi) rare books and special collections

• Three Museums for (i) antiquities, (ii) manuscripts, and (iii) the history of science
• A planetarium
• An Exploration for children's exposure to science
• Three permanent exhibitions
• Six art galleries for temporary exhibitions
• A conference center for thousands of persons
• Seven research institutes covering (i) manuscripts, (ii) documentation of heritage, (iii)

  calligraphy and writing, (iv) information sciences, (v) Mediterranean and Alexandrian Studies, (vi)

  arts, and, (vii) scientific research

• An Institute for Peace Studies, and
• A discussion forum

Today this vast complex is a reality, receiving more than one million visitors each year, and holding hundreds of events every year.