Constructed in the 3rd century BC, the ancient Library of Alexandria was the city’s landmark and one of the ancient world’s most impressive libraries. Until now, the period during which Alexandria lost its symbol of cultural knowledge is a mystery to many. Like its ancient forerunner, today’s Bibliotheca Alexandrina serves many great goals to demonstrate the spirit of openness and the exchange of cultures, which reclaim the mantle of its ancient namesake.
Representing the wealth knowledge of its ancient form, the building exterior is decorated with the characters of more than 100 different written languages from around the world.
Built along Alexandria’s ancient harbor, the construction work began in 1995 and was officially inaugurated on 16 October 2002. The 11-story library is a vast complex where around 4 million volumes of books are found. Further, if the library’s compact storage is used, it can possess 8 million volumes of books. The library brings together the arts, history, philosophy, and science through including a planetarium, several museums, a school for information science, conservation facilities, and art galleries.
