Alexandria Library rises from its ashes like a phoenix

In 290 BC, the Alexandria Library was the first in the world to pay homage to the achievements of human knowledge in the fields of literature and the sciences.

Housing more than 700,000 manuscripts and scrolls and over 125,000 books, this was no ordinary library, either in the nature of its contents or the stature of its users.

The library enjoyed "legal deposit rights" which meant that it was entitled to copy, print and distribute any of its possessions. Such a concept at that point in time was revolutionary as it meant opening the gates of knowledge to all.

This was a turning point for Arabs as manuscripts written in Arabic were translated into Greek for the first time.

Alexandria was undoubtedly a scientific Mecca, an intellectual metropolis, and a commercial centre. Indeed, it was living its golden era and exploring the boundless and fascinating world of knowledge.

But in 48 BC fate dealt this greatest library of its time a cruel blow as a fire destroyed most of its treasured possessions.

It was Ptolemy, who ruled in the third century BC, who sought to transform Alexandria into the most important capital and an unrivalled trade centre in the ancient world. His ambitions were grandiose as he also aspired to turn the library into a reservoir of knowledge and culture that would enable Alexandria to surpass the status of its rival, Athens.

The environment which was so conducive to creativity and learning produced many great minds such as Archimedes, Euclid, the physiologist Herophilus and Hippocrates, to name just a few. The library was the world's first university where creativity was the criteria for enrolment.

But would the restoration of a historical building bring back to life the glory of a past era? Would it be possible for the role played in ancient times to be revitalised in the electronic 21st century? Or would the library only be symbolically connected to what it used to be?

"The revival of Alexandria Library has international dimensions," says Dr. Ismail Siraj Al Deen, the library's Director in an interview with the Egyptian daily, Al Ahram. "It is a message to the world that aims at reviving Egypt's cultural role. This library has been renovated during the time of the electronic challenge, and we have agreed to take on this challenge.

The Library will become the second international centre after California, in being an archival storage centre for the content available on the Internet."

This archive, explains Dr. Siraj Al Deen, will be different from that available in a traditional library. The electronic library will preserve the cultural heritage of humanity. Films, eight million books, 50,000 maps, 100,000 manuscripts, 10,000 rare books, and 30 databases will be stored in the memories of no less than 200 super computers.

One of the library's main goals, says Dr. Siraj Al Deen, is to create a three dimensional presentation of old manuscripts and transcripts. This, he believes, will link that glorious heritage with modern technology.

But he notes that the library is no position to compete with larger libraries such as the Library of Congress in the United States.

Nevertheless, what distinguishes the Alexandria Library from all others is the spirit in which it was founded, a spirit that made it at one point of time in history the centre of knowledge on earth. In fact, it is this history that makes the restoration of this complex meaningful.

Indeed, this inheritance lends the library a distinguished status. But it also lays on it the burden of serving the readers, scholars and researchers, not only locally but globally as well, says Dr. Siraj Al Deen.

Intellectual lighthouse

"The Library has to become an intellectual lighthouse and a cultural institution that wins the respect of the world. We have to be active in the international cultural arena," says Dr. Siraj Al Deen.

Indeed, this is of crucial importance for the Arab world, especially today as it lives through volatile times which began worldwide a year ago.

Will the library be able to bridge the gap between the technologically advanced haves and the illiterate have-nots? Will it be able to turn round the negative image that the Arab world is suffering from? sUndoubtedly, such an effort will take years to achieve. Only with time can a judgement be made.

This will not only be evaluated in terms of how the world views the Arab world but also whether the Arab world has succeeded or failed in riding the wave of technological advancements with all its ramifications.