Events
Celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) festivities will highlight the achievements of those five years before the President and Mrs. Mubarak and other guests. Thousands of events, including concerts, exhibitions, lectures and seminars, and millions of visitors, one quarter of which are reader visits, show the BA as a living, vibrant institution that brings together all facets of art, culture and science in a beautiful rich and enriching mixture.
Placing the 555,555th book on the shelves (23 October)
In August 2001, we placed the first books on our shelves. They were the Holy Quran and the Holy Bible. Without doubt the most influential books in the history of the world. From that first step we put in place our collections, supported by gifts and legacies, and built up a collection that reached 200,000 at the time of the inauguration in October 2002. Through the past five years, we refined our collections, increased them, built up special collections for multi-media, children and youth, and above all built up our electronic resources to where we can count on over 25,000 e-periodicals and some 20,000 e-books. Now, in tandem with celebrating our fifth anniversary, we also placed the 555,555th book on our shelves. It was Euclid’s Elements, arguable the most important scientific text ever written, and a product of the Ancient Library of Alexandria. It was promptly backed up by Al Khuwarizmi’s Kitab Al Jabr wal Muqabala (Algebra) and Hawking’s On the Shoulders of Giants. This trilogy from the great contribution of the Ancient Library, through the Arab–Muslim world’s great contribution to mathematics to a new book, by a great contemporary scientist, summarizing the best of modern science (from Copernicus to Einstein), together highlight the Library’s respect for science throughout the ages. This trilogy from the great contribution of the Ancient Library, through the Arab–Muslim world’s great contribution to mathematics to a new book, by a great contemporary scientist, summarizing the best of modern science (from Copernicus to Einstein), together highlight the Library’s respect for science throughout the ages.
» Ten books that shaped the world
Celebration reception (24 October)
All the many visitors joining us for the events during this celebration, as well as the loyal friends of the BA from inside Egypt, will be invited to a celebratory reception on the evening of the 24th, with finger foods in the plaza and a musical concert.
Reception for the friends of the Library
The association of the friends of the Library, loyal and committed friends of the BA before its inauguration, and strong allies in the execution of the BA’s mission, the friends are present in Alexandria on this important occasion. The BA Director is hosting a special reception for them as a small symbol of our undying appreciation and gratitude for all they have done and continue to do.
A special reception for the representatives of the Media will be hosted by the Director of the BA. The reception is in lieu of a press conference, and should allow for greater informal interaction between the Media and the senior management of the BA.
At the end of the day on the 25th, after all the official events are over, the Director is hosting a reception for the staff of the BA, in gratitude for all they have done in the past five years, and to recognize that it is they and their work that make the BA what it is today.
Launch of the Arabic edition of "Women for Science"
The Inter-Academy Council (IAC) has issued a major report entitled Women for Science, addressing the issues confronting women in the practice of science. That report is the background document for the major conference Women in Science being held at the BA on the 23 & 24 of October 2007. On the occasion of this important conference, we shall at the concluding session of the seminar launch the Arabic edition of this report, as a way to encourage the role of women in science in the Arab world, and to promote the role of the Arab Network of Women in Science and Technology (ANWIST), which shall be meeting immediately after the conclusion of the Women in Science conference.
Launch of the Arabic edition of "Women in an Insecure World"
DCAF of Switzerland has issued major report on the status of Women in an insecure world. That book was launched at the BA in 2006 in conjunction with the inauguration of the Institute of Peace Study hosted at the BA. At that time there was a request that this massive tome should be translated into Arabic. We have now done so, and expect to launch the Arabic version of that report at the event entitled 1000 Peace women, in the presence of Mrs. Mubarak.