Free Entry and Membership: The Children's and Young Peoples' Libraries
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Alexandria—Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria, canceled the membership and visit fees for both the Children's and Young Peoples' Libraries. The resolution commensurate with the BA’s main objective to disseminate knowledge and encourage reading, research, and creativity among children, as well as develop their skills and talents.
The BA Children's Library, one of the pioneer cultural projects of the BA, witnessed some renovations and expansions, and was inaugurated by HE Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, Egypt's First Lady, as a result of the increasing number of children visiting the Library. The Children's Library is one of the specialized libraries at the BA and is and is an educational medium for raising children and developing their skills.
Dr. Sohair Wastawy, Head of the BA Library Sector, stated that the Library receives children from 6 to 11 years old. The library is designed to develop reading and research skills in children, prepare a generation able to face challenges of the digital age, open a window for children on the history and culture of Egypt, as well as the international literature and folklore. The library also meets the needs of visually impaired children and children with special needs, supports creativity, and adopts the idea of a mobile library to reach out to all Egyptian children.
Dr. Serageldin's resolution includes the Young Peoples' Library on the first floor of the BA. The library comprises a huge number of books, references, encyclopedias, atlases, dictionaries, novels, science fiction stories, journals, daily papers, periodicals, cassette tapes, DVDs, documentaries, and electronic databases.
The activities and services of the Young Peoples' Library include Research for All program, Search with Us on the Internet, My Book Digital and Printed, as well as several competitions, namely: the Future Programmer and the Young Digital Creator. The library also organizes reading programs such as, Book of the Month, Reading Passport, and Book Talk.