The Egyptian National Library and Archives, under the supervision of the Egyptian General Authority for the Library and Archives, recently celebrated the 156th anniversary of the establishment of the 'Khodive Library', which serves as the nucleus of the current library. The festivities were held at the historic location in Bab al-Khalq, Cairo. Dr. Osama Talat, head of the General Authority for the Library and Archives, delivered a speech highlighting the cultural, historical, and political significance of the occasion.
In his speech, Dr. Talat emphasized the importance of national identity, referencing the 'National Identity Conference' held in Alexandria under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. He stressed that discussing national identity is not a luxury but a necessity, especially given the current regional dynamics that aim to dismantle national identities and reshape the region to serve external interests.
Dr. Talat highlighted the resilience and unity of the Egyptian people throughout history, particularly during challenging times. He noted that Egypt has always been a model for the blending of civilizations and religions, and that the country's historical and cultural heritage is a vital component of its national identity.
The General Authority for the Library and Archives has undertaken several development projects to modernize its infrastructure and expand its services. Dr. Mina Ramzi, head of the Central Administration of the Library and Archives, presented an overview of these projects, which include the opening of new library branches in recently established cities and under-served areas.
Some of the notable projects include the opening of the 'Nadi al-Zuhur' library in August 2024, serving 45,000 beneficiaries, and the 'al-Mahrousa' library in October 2024, serving 24,000 residents. Additionally, the 'Minshat al-Bakari' library was opened in September 2026 to serve 153,000 people. Two mobile libraries were also launched in June 2025 to provide services to governorates and remote areas.
The library has also made significant progress in digital transformation, including the establishment of a new digitization laboratory in collaboration with the Islamic Endowment Association. The laboratory is working on a global project to digitize and make available the rare 'Mamluk Qurans' collection. Furthermore, the library has developed its digital scanning laboratory, which has enabled the digitization of over 7 million images from various information sources.
The library has also implemented several initiatives to improve access to its collections and services, including the launch of the 'Electronic Deposit' project, which simplifies the process of obtaining deposit numbers for publishers and authors. The library has also reissued the 'Deposit Notice' (National Bibliography) electronically through its website to support researchers and protect intellectual property rights.
Key points
- The Egyptian National Library and Archives celebrates 156 years since the establishment of the 'Khodive Library', highlighting its cultural and historical significance.
- The library has undertaken several development projects to modernize its infrastructure and expand its services, including the opening of new library branches and mobile libraries.
- The library has made significant progress in digital transformation, including the establishment of a new digitization laboratory and the development of its digital scanning laboratory.
