The "One Million Books for Lebanon" campaign, launched by Tālīd, the National Network for the Protection of Libraries, Archives, and Cultural Heritage in Lebanon, has achieved a significant milestone. On October 7, the initiative, aimed at rebuilding destroyed or dispersed book collections, supporting affected institutions, and providing access to books for displaced populations, held an event in Beirut. The campaign, which began in July, has already collected over 40,000 books, with the goal of reaching one million volumes.
The campaign, which started at the Lebanese National Library in Beirut's Sanayeh neighborhood on July 10, has traveled to several regions, including Tripoli, Baakline, and Barja. Tālīd has called for the mobilization of all stakeholders in the book chain, including individuals, publishers, authors, translators, booksellers, libraries, schools, universities, municipalities, associations, and members of the diaspora. Contributions can be made not only in the form of book donations but also through support for book restoration and the preparation of spaces to host the collected volumes.
The initiative aims to go beyond simply collecting books, as Tālīd seeks to assess the damage suffered by libraries, archives, and cultural institutions to document losses and prepare reconstruction efforts. The network also plans to establish temporary solutions to provide access to books for displaced populations, including setting up provisional spaces in villages such as Houla, Odaisseh, and Bint Jbeil. Bint Jbeil's public library, which had over 15,000 volumes and 1,500 monthly visitors, was entirely destroyed, highlighting the scale of the challenge.
The collected books, which include works in Arabic, French, English, Spanish, and Armenian, must now be registered, classified, and distributed according to their language, content, and the needs of the institutions they will be sent to. Some volumes require repair before being returned to circulation. This sorting process will be crucial in ensuring that the goal of one million books is not just a numerical target but a meaningful contribution to Lebanon's cultural landscape.
The campaign has garnered support from various cultural institutions and individuals, reflecting the diversity of Lebanon's cultural scene. Tālīd's efforts aim to not only restore access to books but also to revive cultural spaces that were lost or damaged. The network's ambition is to make the collected books accessible and sustainable, serving readers and communities that have lost their libraries.
As the campaign enters a new phase, the focus will shift from quantity to organization and redistribution. With over 40,000 books already gathered, the challenge now lies in transforming this mobilization into lasting collections that can be enjoyed by the public. The initiative's success will depend on the continued support of stakeholders and the effective distribution of the collected volumes.
The "One Million Books for Lebanon" campaign is a testament to the resilience of Lebanon's cultural community and the importance of preserving its literary heritage. As the country rebuilds and recovers, initiatives like this one demonstrate the power of collective action in promoting cultural revival and community engagement.
Key points
- The campaign aims to collect one million books for Lebanon's libraries and cultural institutions.
- Over 40,000 books have been collected so far, with the goal of supporting affected institutions and displaced populations.
- The initiative also seeks to assess damage to cultural institutions and provide temporary solutions for access to books.
