Library of Alexandria launches Arab Reading Challenge wing

The Library of Alexandria has established the Arab Reading Challenge (ARC) wing with 150,000 books in various genres including fiction, history, science and more.

The initiative was launched under the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, with the signing of an agreement between Arab Reading Challenge and the Library of Alexandria.

Saeed Al Eter, Assistant Secretary-General of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, said, "Since its launch two years ago, ARC has successfully become the largest knowledge project in the Arab world, collaborating with many important cultural institutions across the region. The initiative seeks to expand its reach beyond students and schools, and to engage dynamically and directly with cultural and educational institutions in local communities across various countries."

He continued, "MBRGI’s partnership with the Library of Alexandria translates ARC’s vision to actively participate in reigniting the development process in the Arab world through knowledge, culture and intellectualism."

This stands as an important partnership between ARC and the Library of Alexandria in Egypt, with an effort to maximise student participation in ARC in Egypt. It will also be the first time that school students will be allowed to borrow books from the library, in order to provide them with quality reading material, and to engrain in them the habit of reading daily.

The signing of the agreement was attended by ARC Secretary-General Dr. Najla Al Shamsi, and Director of Public Relations and International Contacts at the Library of Alexandria Dr. Sherif Riad.

Under the agreement, the Library of Alexandria committed to making the books available to all schools participating in ARC in Egypt, including sending mobile buses to reach schools that do not have access to the library, as well as coordinating school trips to bring students to the library itself.

Najla Al Shamsi said, "ARC is keen to partner with various cultural institutions, both globally and regionally, in order to provide books and educational material for students wherever they are. The initiative seeks to instill reading as a daily habit among young Arabs – by engaging the largest number of stakeholders possible in activities that promote literacy, we get closer to achieving our goal."

"Choosing to partner with the Library of Alexandria reflects the importance of this city, which is known for its Mediterranean cultural identity. It is an incubator of the most relevant literary trends, and is a bridge for dialogue between Eastern and Western civilisations," she concluded.

Director of the Library Dr. Mustafa Al Faki said, "The Library of Alexandria is one of the most important cultural landmarks in the Arab world, and believes in the importance of ARC’s mission to enhance knowledge and culture among students in the Arab world."