Thursday, February 3, 2011

Kids Protecting Egypt's Bibliotheca Alexandrina

A LANDMARK BUILDING (Reflections onthe Architecture of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina)It seems young people in Egypt have organized themselves to protect major cultural landmarks, such as the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, during the recent upheavals.  Working with the army, the youth  "directed traffic, protected neighborhoods and guarded public buildings of value such as the Egyptian Museum and the Library of Alexandria" says Ismail Serageldin, the director of the library in this article from the Guardian.  The Bibliotheca Alexandrina was opened in 2002 as a way of reclaiming the lost library of Alexandria.


After all the jokes about snow days, that book in college curriculums, and general wackiness that I tend to report on this site, I love to actually find some good in this world having to do with libraries.  I hope everyone in that region finds peace in some way and feel proud for the human race that these small militias are banding together not only to protect their homes but their futures.  Organized youth protecting culture.  What will they think of next? 


Thanks to @librarianchat for this awesome article.
Update, pics and video, thanks @GlobalLib