The Bibliotheca Alexandrina Today

On or near the site of the ancient Library of Alexandria, today's Bibliotheca Alexandrina serves as a local public library as well as a world-class repository for research materials and databases. Counted among its daily users are children enjoying story hours and craft projects, teenagers seeking extra-curricular reading, students from the University of Alexandria which is across the street, researchers looking for ancient manuscripts or modern works in a myriad of languages, and tourists from around the world.

After 25 years of planning sponsored by UNESCO and the Government of Egypt, the Norwegian architectural firm Snohetta won the privelege of designing a modern building capable of holding eight million volumes. It is shaped as a circle inclined towardes the sea, evoking the imagery of the sun rising out of the ocean.

The Bibliotheca opened officially in 2002, and it has seen an increase in use and materials each year since then. Among its programs are an active acquisitions program for increasing the collections, special collections and activities for children and teens, an Antiquities Museum, a library for the blind and visually impaired, a vigorous publishing program, outreach to nonusers, and hosting many cultural events, conferences, art classes and performances, workshops, and tours for international visitors. The Annual Report outlines the Library's activities.

Statistical highlights for 2009:

• 2035 staff members
• 52 open hours weekly
• 674,000 titles held, including digital and print monographs, periodicals, databases
• 15,000 memberships
• Operations budget of 20 million dollars annually

  • 60% from government funding
  • 25% from donors
  • 10-15 % from library revenue