Library Tour
The
Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a
beautiful building whose design
at the architectural and
structural levels merits one's
attention. It is located on a
magnificent site on the historic
Eastern Harbor of Alexandria,
almost exactly where the Ancient
Library and the royal palace of
the Ptolemies once stood. It
faces the sea to the north,
Alexandria University Complex on
its southern side, and overlooks
the Silsilah Peninsula .
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina
comprises three main elements
connected underground below the
Plaza into one large functional
complex: the pre-existing
Conference Center, the new
planetarium and new building
that includes the Library which
consists of: the Main Library,
Taha Hussein Library for the
visually impaired, Young
People's Library, Children's
Library, Multimedia Library,
Internet Archive, Nobel Section,
and Rare Manuscript and Book
Library.
The large front doors lead to a
three-tier, mirror paneled grand
court, Ptolemy's Court. The
sides of the Court can hold
exhibitions and artistic or
cultural performances, having
Demetrius of Phaleron Statue at
the Library entrance on the
left, and on the right side to
the Library entrance, there is a
gift shop. The Children's
Library and the Young People's
Library are on the first floor
reachable after passing the
Entrance. After crossing the
closed doors of the “threshold”
to the library proper, one
glimpses the open space beyond.
As one moves closer to the Main
Hall, the soft indirect light
and the well-positioned electric
lights imbue the scene with a
special ambiance. Then, a few
steps further takes one onto the
viewing balcony, named in honor
of Callimachus (the great
Hellenistic poet who created the
first organized record of the
Ancient Library's holdings
organized by subject and author
thus becoming the Father of
Library Science).
The Main Library interior, a
total area of 13,625 m2,
is split into seven levels, each
has a reading area and a
shelving area as well as a
Reference Desk. It is considered
to be the largest Reading Hall
in the world with 2000 seats.
The unique mastaba
design of the interior levels
gives a cascade-like impression,
with each reading space is
attractively scaled and
fathomable to the human psyche.
The seven levels correspond to
the different groupings of
materials using the Dewey
Decimal Classification:
F2: UN/EU
Depository Collection
F1: History &
Geography
E: Literature &
Rhetoric … Internet Archive/Taha
Hussein Library
B1: Technology
& Natural Sciences and
Mathematics & Languages …
Microfilm Library
B2: Social
Sciences … Special Collection
Library
B3: Religion …
Multimedia Library
B4: Philosophy
and Psychology & Generalities &
Periodicals & Reference
Materials & Maps
For Further Information on the
Library Visits, kindly check the
following URL:
http://www.bibalex.org//English/visitors/visitorinfo/info.htm
