Dr. Ahmed Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and Mohamed Hassani, Director of Luxor Public Library, signed a cooperation protocol between the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Luxor Public Library on Thursday. The ceremony brought together Ahmed Abdel Moniem, Deputy Director of Luxor Public Library, Mahmoud Ahmed Mustafa, Director of the Information and Communication Technology Department at Luxor Public Library, as well as department heads and administrators from the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
According to a statement issued by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the agreement aims to establish a “Knowledge Embassy” affiliated with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina inside Luxor Public Library, located along the famed Karnak Avenue in the heart of Luxor. This initiative seeks to serve students, researchers, and those interested in cultural, scientific, and intellectual matters from the residents and visitors of Luxor.
Dr. Zayed emphasized that Luxor is an open museum, home to over a quarter of the world’s ancient monuments, including temples, obelisks, museums, statues, and royal palaces from ancient Egyptian pharaohs and queens. He also stated that this Knowledge Embassy will be the 33rd in a series of embassies established by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in universities and institutions across Egypt, marking the first of its kind within Egypt’s public libraries in all governorates.
Moreover, Dr. Zayed highlighted that the collaboration between the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Luxor Public Library, as well as the Luxor Heritage Center, is not the first of its kind. The Documentation Center for Cultural and Natural Heritage (cultNat), a part of the Cultural Outreach Sector of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, previously established the Culturama Hall at the Luxor Heritage Center. This is one of the largest Culturama halls, with a capacity of 225 viewers per show.
By establishing the Knowledge Embassy at Luxor Public Library, Dr. Zayed noted that residents and visitors of Luxor will have access to a wealth of knowledge, including references, scientific journals, and cultural books totaling over half a million digitized books, references, and periodicals. They will also have the opportunity to visit the library’s museum and manuscript centers virtually, and attend live-streamed conferences, seminars, and events held at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
Mohamed Hassani, Director of Luxor Public Library, expressed his excitement for the partnership with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, emphasizing that the agreement complements the recent presidential inauguration of the Luxor Heritage Center. He added that the library’s location along the Karnak Avenue has greatly enhanced its cultural significance.
Hassani also mentioned that in 2024, the Luxor Heritage Center attracted over half a million visitors and was awarded the title of “Best Library in the Country” for the same year. The success of Luxor Library has made it a beacon of culture in Upper Egypt, especially with the opening of a new branch in New Tiba and the upcoming branch in Esna.
He proposed that Luxor library staff receive training at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina to transfer expertise and ensure they remain aligned with such a renowned cultural institution.
The event concluded with a symbolic exchange of gifts between Dr. Ahmed Zayed and Dr. Mohamed Hassani, further solidifying the strengthened collaboration between the two prestigious institutions.
Tags: Alexandria Library, Luxor Public Library, Knowledge Embassy, Egypt Libraries, Luxor, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Cultural Heritage, Knowledge Sharing, Egyptian Libraries, Public Library Collaboration
Focus Keyphrase: Alexandria Library Luxor Knowledge Embassy
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