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Editor's note: The effects of the revolution ion Egyptian libraries were described in an article in the last issue. Now, Dr. El-Ramady examines the contribution of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in support of political and societal development.
Libraries are social entities: for society they are established, and by society they are supported. The ALA stated "Libraries are the mind and soul of their communities, and librarians are the mind and soul of the library." For this reason, libraries should keep pace with societal change.
Speaking about Egypt's tremendous societal, economic, and political changes wrought by the 2011 revolution that took place following a popular uprising beginning on January 25th, Egyptian libraries should be the mind and soul of the new Egyptian community. Fortunately, one of the Egyptian libraries that took the initiative was Bibliotheca Alexandrina. In this study all the activities and programs held by this distinguished library to support the Egyptian people from the outbreak of the revolution to the end of April 2011 are studied.
The Egyptian revolution's events are still going on. These events have had many good and bad effects on the Egyptian society. Libraries in Egypt, for many reasons, have been a marginal aid for society in the incidents, except for the largest library in Egypt - Bibliotheca Alexandrina -which has played an important supporting role in these circumstances by providing a variety of activities and programs.
The last symposium at Bibliotheca Alexandrina before the beginning of the revolution was held on December 23rd and the topic was cancer cells and nanoparticles. The revolution broke out on January 25th and the library was temporarily closed. On February 8th, three days before Mubarak stepped down and with the revolution still going full on, the library held the first of...