The Manuscript Center 5th International Conference Begins at the BA
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Alexandria—
The BA held on Tuesday, 6 May 2008, the opening session of the 5th International Manuscript Conference entitled "Lost and Embedded Manuscript Texts (al-Makhtutat al-Mattwiyya)", attended by scholars, researchers and media men from several Arab and foreign countries.
Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria, welcomed the attendees and stated that the participation of elite scholars from several countries such as America, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Syria, and the Netherlands reflects the success of the Manuscript Conference, in its fifth round, preceded by four Manuscript Conferences: Millenary Manuscripts (September 2004); Signed Manuscripts (April 2005); Commentary Manuscripts (May 2006); and Translated Manuscripts (2007).
Dr. Youssef Ziedan, Director of the BA Manuscript Center and Museum, stated that some might think that hidden or lost manuscripts (al-Makhtutat al-Mattwiyya) is only a small valueless fraction of our heritage. However the truth is just the opposite, the majority of the Arab- Islamic heritage is still unknown to us; since what is published of such heritage is mere five percent of its total.
Dr. Ziedan defined the concept of al-Mattwiyya (folded), as publications which emerged during a particular age, then disappeared or was hidden for some reason. He added that the folding or concealment of manuscripts started long time ago before our Arab and Islamic heritage. Finally, Dr. Ziedan stressed that we will not fully understand our heritage unless we search in its hidden or lost texts.