Thursday, February 03, 2011

Protecting the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Amidst the Chaos in Egypt


Alexandria youth are protecting the Alexandria library from looters, notes the Guardian. The director gives them thanks.

From the piece...

The director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina has announced that his building, built in commemoration of the famous ancient library destroyed in antiquity, is being kept safe by Egypt's young people during the current unrest sweeping the country.

In a statement on the library's site, Ismail Serageldin tells "friends around the world" that the library is being protected by the city's youth from the threat of looting by the "lawless bands of thugs, and maybe agents provocateurs" who have materialised since the popular protests sweeping through Egypt's major cities began several days ago.

"The young people organised themselves into groups that directed traffic, protected neighborhoods and guarded public buildings of value such as the Egyptian Museum and the Library of Alexandria," he states. "They are collaborating with the army. This makeshift arrangement is in place until full public order returns."

The library is to stay closed while the political uncertainty continues and a curfew remains in place, but Serageldin is sanguine for its security.

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