Egypt's public library system
A beginning without an end
Egypt's regional public libraries
Due to the great success achieved by the Egyptian Public Library in the cultural arena, an initiative was announced in the year 2000 to disseminate its model in various localities, where each governorate, in cooperation with the main Egyptian Public Library, began to establish a public library in it in accordance with the technical conditions and standards approved by the main library’s Board of Directors. . The success of the idea of establishing the main library and regional libraries helped to issue Presidential Decree No. 49 of 2006 with the aim of organizing Egypt’s public libraries and defining the relationship between the main library and regional libraries.
The Republican decision included the establishment of the Egyptian Public Libraries Fund with the aim of providing support to Egypt’s public libraries in all governorates so that they achieve their mission of spreading cultural awareness among citizens. The Fund began its actual work in March 2007 , and within the framework of this national project, ( 27) public libraries were opened in the governorates. Coordination is underway to open two other offices. The Fund’s Board of Directors has identified the most important areas for providing support in the following areas: Building and developing paper and non-paper collections. Providing libraries with technological devices and means that are not provided by the Ministry of Communications. Financing various cultural activities. Contributing to establishing and modernizing the infrastructure of libraries in a way that increases their capabilities. Establishing and equipping language and computer laboratories. Training workers and raising their capabilities. Providing the requirements of people with special needs. Participating workers in some library science conferences with the aim of developing their skills and exchanging experiences.
4 . Misr Public Library - New Valley:
Opening: The library was opened in the city of Kharga on 10/6/2003 as the first library in the system. 
Egypt's regional public libraries. Location: The library occupies a privileged location in the city of Kharga on an area of 8,181 square metres. The surface of the library building occupies 1,132 square metres, consisting of one floor, surrounded by green spaces, with an open theater in the middle built in the Roman style, with an area of about 400 square metres. The number of book holdings in the library is 25,175 , and the number of participating members is 1,692 active members. The number of cultural activities provided to beneficiaries is about 1,028 activities annually, in which about 59,277 participants participate. The number of visitors to the library is approximately 24,798 visitors annually.
5 Egypt Public Library, Port Said
Opening: The library opened on 3/22/2004.
Location: The library occupies a prime location in Port Said on an area of 12,500 square meters.
The library’s main building has an area of about 1,000 square meters, consisting of one floor, and the remaining area includes green spaces and other facilities: the Suzanne Mubarak Center for Scientific Creativity and a cafeteria to serve library activities.
A site for serving people with special needs. The number of holdings in the Port Said Library is 39,957 books, and the number of active members is 1,415 active members. The number of cultural activities provided to beneficiaries is about 5,528 activities annually, in which about 502,676 participants participate.
The number of visitors who visit the library is approximately 339,277 visitors annually.
6 – Misr Public Library – Damietta:
Opening: The library opened on 3/22/2004.
Location: The library was established on a prime location overlooking the Nile in the city of Damietta, with an area of 2,625 square meters. The total area of the library building is about 2,545 square meters, consisting of five floors and an outdoor theater of 625 square meters.
The number of holdings in the Damietta Library is 37,461 books, and the number of active members is 649 active members.
The number of cultural activities provided to beneficiaries is approximately 387 activities annually, in which approximately 18,687 participants participate. The number of visitors is approximately 5,209 visitors annually.
7- Egypt Public Library - Mansoura
Opening: The library opened on June 26, 2005.
Location: The library occupies a privileged location on the shore of the Nile, with a length of 200 meters, with an area of about 2,100 square meters, of which about 600 square meters is flat in the main building of the library, which consists of five floors, and about 1,500 meters of green areas and an outdoor theatre . The number of holdings in the Mansoura Library is 58,166 books, and the number of active members is 1,072 active participating members . The number of cultural activities provided to beneficiaries is about 188 activities, in which 11,959 participate, and the number of visitors is about 49,598 visitors annually.
8 – Misr Public Library – Hurghada:
Opening: The library opened on August 23, 2005.
Location: The library was established in a prime location in Hurghada on an area of 4,450 square metres.
The surface area of the library building is about 450 square meters, and the rest is green areas with a cafeteria to serve the library’s activities and the headquarters of the Suzanne Mubarak Center for Creativity and Science. The number of holdings is 30,323 books, and the number of active members is 1,389 active members. The number of cultural activities provided to beneficiaries is approximately 2,009 activities, in which 63,086 participants participate. The number of visitors is approximately 193,449 visitors annually.
9 - Misr Public Library - Luxor
. Opening The library opened on 5/19/2007
Location: The library and cultural heritage center is located at the northern entrance to Luxor on Karnak Temple Street. It is located in the most prestigious location in the city, about 200 meters away from the banks of the Nile River. The area is
The college’s library area is 2,339 square meters. 
Library Components The library building consists of 3 floors in the form of an open book, consisting of a basement and three floors containing the following halls: the Hall of the Knights of the Sky, which is a hall that highlights the great scientific progress of the Arab provinces that preceded the world, especially in the field of monitoring and navigation, the holographic exhibition hall, which consists of three rooms. Dedicated to viewing performances in three dimensions of the live and three-dimensional display of cultural heritage using special glasses that in turn embody the show to the viewer as if it were on the ground, the Eternal Egypt Hall, which is a corner equipped with a group of computers and allows displaying the Eternal Egypt website and provides the visitor with all information related to the ancient and diverse Egyptian civilizations, the Eternal Egypt Hall. Egyptology, which is the first Egyptology hall in Egypt to serve Egyptian scholars and researchers in the history and civilization of ancient Egypt.
And foreigners in various languages. It also contains a collection of pictures of the city of Luxor, which dates back more than a hundred years. It includes about 10,000 information containers specialized in the history of Egypt through the ages, especially with regard to the Pharaonic era, the map hall, which includes a collection of paper and digital maps of the city of Luxor and its archaeological sites, as well as maps of all parts of Egypt, a senior information hall, and the hall accommodates 35 people on the first floor. In addition to the children's reading room, the green corner, the children's activities room, the computer learning room, the language learning room, and an Internet corner for adults and children in the floor.
The second includes lecture halls and a training center.
. The number of holdings reached 45,209 books, and the number of active members reached 871 active members.
. The number of cultural activities provided to beneficiaries is about 937 activities, with 67,589 participants participating.
The number of visitors is approximately 120,948 visitors annually.
10 - Egypt Public Library - Damanhour (Beheira):
Opening: It opened on 5/7/2009
Location: The library is located in the city of Damanhour in a distinct area. The total area of the site is about 12,000 square meters, distributed as follows: the main building of the library, 1,563 square metres, the pergolas, 1,610 square metres, the conference building, 310 square metres, the green areas and the Roman theater, 8,571 square metres.
Library Components: The main building consists of three floors, another two-storey building designated for holding conferences, seminars, and an open theatre, in addition to 14 pergolas designed in the form of three groups. These facilities are surrounded by green spaces covering the site... The library contains an information and loan office, reading rooms for children and adults, and a reading hall
The youth hall, the Internet hall, and the multimedia hall, next to the roof, include a cafeteria to serve patrons
The library and 14 pergolas distributed as follows: two pergolas for learning languages
Two pergolas for training in the use of the computer and its applications, intended for adults. A pergola for training in the use of the computer and its applications, intended for children. A pergola for visual presentations for children - a pergola for the Youth Science Club. A pergola for the Green Corner - a pergola for people with special needs. Two pergolas for holding various activities for children - two pergolas for holding various workshops. A specialized pergola for the cafeteria.
The number of holdings is 46,997 books, and the number of active members is 2,730 active members. The number of cultural activities provided to beneficiaries is about 662 activities, in which 21,870 participants participate. The number of visitors is approximately 76,2032 visitors annually.
11 - Egypt Public Library - Ismailia
Opening: The library opened on 6/24/2010
Location: The library occupies a distinguished place in Othman Ahmed Othman Square in Ismailia Governorate. The total area of the library headquarters is: thousands of square metres. The main building is characterized by an architectural character that tends to the Roman style. Library Components The library building consists of two floors: the ground floor includes an office for information and public services, a reading room for adults that includes references in various fields, a reading room for children, a theater, a hall for providing various activities for children, a hall for audio-visual materials, a training hall for teaching languages and computers, and administrative offices. The upper floor includes A youth information hall and a gallery exhibition hall.
The number of holdings is 28,180 books, and the number of active members is 1,249 active members.
. The number of cultural activities provided to beneficiaries is approximately 4,278 activities in which 29,907 participants participate.
The number of visitors is about 99,010 visitors annually.
12 - Misr Public Library - Zagazig, Sharqia:
Opening: The library opened on 9/26/2012
Location: The library is located in a prime location near Zagazig University, overlooking the sea of the Mois Canal branching off from the Nile River. The total area of the library site is 1,754 square metres.
The college built a library building of 3,200 square meters, and a theater with an area of about 200 square meters was also established .
Library components: The library consists of a ground floor and four upper floors, divided as follows: The ground floor includes the information office, the lending office, and a theater that can accommodate 120 people. The first floor contains a gallery exhibition hall and administrative offices. The second floor (the children’s library includes a children’s reading room, an activities hall, and a computer and language training hall.
The multimedia hall, the green corner, a hall for people with special needs, in addition to the periodicals hall and cafeteria, third floor (youth library, which includes a youth information hall, an activity hall, a computer training hall, and a language laboratory.
Internet and multimedia hall and science club, fourth floor (adult library), which includes a reading room
Adults, a computer training hall, a language laboratory, an Internet and multimedia hall, and an education hall
grown ups. The number of holdings is 58,368 books, and the number of active members is 3,920 active members.
The number of cultural activities provided to beneficiaries is approximately 230 member activities, in which 17,131 participants participate.
The number of visitors is approximately 57,585 visitors annually.
13 - Misr Public Library - Banha, Qalyubia
Opening: The library opened on February 24, 2013
. Location: The library is located on Naguib Mahfouz Street - Banha, next to the National Council for Women. The area is...
The total area of the library is about 1,300 square metres
Library Components: The library building consists of 4 floors as follows: The ground floor includes the lending and information desk, the book store, the photocopying service, and a space designated for film screenings. The first floor includes the children’s reading hall, the green corner, the activities and hobbies hall, the audio-visual media hall, and the Internet hall. The second floor includes a hall An information hall for adults, an audio-visual hall, an Internet hall, and a self-learning hall. The third floor includes a seminar and conference hall, a VIP hall, and administrative offices.
The number of holdings is 39,269 books, and the number of active members is 980 active members.
The number of cultural activities provided to beneficiaries is approximately 663 member activities, with 18,656 participants participating.
. The number of visitors is approximately 27,097 visitors annually.
14 - Egypt Public Library - Marsa Matrouh
Opening: The library opened on 3/24/2015
Location: The library is located in the most prestigious location in the city on the seaside promenade. The total area of the library is about 3,042 square meters. Library Components The library building consists of a ground floor of four floors. On the ground floor there is a main entrance hall, a reception hall, an information and circulation office, a hall for people with special needs, and a hall for children’s activities. The first floor consists of administrative offices, a reception hall, a periodicals hall, and a cafeteria. The second floor includes an adult reading hall and a collectibles store. And an art gallery. The third floor includes a children’s reading room, a youth learning room, four computer training rooms, a seminar room, a multimedia room, and two language training rooms. The fourth floor includes a conference room, a meeting room, a waiting room, and an administrative office.
The number of holdings is 18,087 books, and the number of active members is 845 active members.
The number of cultural activities provided to beneficiaries is approximately 223 member activities, in which 24,133 participants participate.
The number of visitors is approximately 225,500 visitors annually.
15 - Egypt Public Library - Minya
Opening: The library opened on 5/28/2016
Location: The library is located in the most prestigious location in the city on the Nile Corniche. The total area of the library is about 2,200 square meters. Library Components The main building consists of two floors, the ground floor (children’s library), which includes the main entrance hall and the reception hall, the information and circulation office, a multi-purpose hall that can accommodate 160 people, a reading hall, a hobby hall, 4 halls for children’s activities, a fine arts gallery, the first floor, the adult library) and includes Two reading rooms, a computer and language training room, a meeting room, a periodicals room, in addition to a cafeteria to serve library patrons. The open-air theater, which is annexed to the library, can accommodate about 150 people, in addition to a children’s garden and green spaces.
The number of holdings is 22,393 books, and the number of active members is 2,667 active members.
The number of cultural activities provided to beneficiaries is approximately 670 member activities, in which 12,309 participants participate.
The number of visitors is approximately 26,879 visitors annually.
Within the framework of the expansion undertaken by the library to spread throughout Egypt, the Egyptian public library system has moved from the stage of establishing affiliated libraries in the capitals and regions of Egypt to establishing branches affiliated with each regional library in the governorates. Three branch libraries for the regional libraries have been established so far, and they are:
16 - Misr Public Library - New Damietta
Opening: The library opened in January 2018
Location: The library is located in the most prestigious location in the city. The total area of the library is about 2,606 square meters.
Library components: The building consists of 4 halls, ground floor, a children’s hall, an adult hall, an activities hall, and a training hall, with a designated place for inquiries at the entrance to the library. The library is surrounded by a green space in which some cultural activities are held.
The number of holdings is 1,321 books, and the number of active members is 123 active members.
The number of cultural activities provided to beneficiaries is about 10 , with 327 participants participating.
The number of visitors is about 30 visitors annually.
17 - Egypt Public Library - Marsa Alam
Opening: The library opened on 1/29/2019
Location: The library is located in the first district of the Roman Theater area in Marsa City
A flag with a total area of 690 square meters in a regular octagonal shape. Library components: The library consists of one floor, which includes a large hall and an auditorium
A small information room, activity hall, and training hall. The number of holdings is 9,115 books, and the number of active members is 530. The number of cultural activities provided to beneficiaries is about 410 activities, with 4,570 participants participating. The number of visitors is about 4,760 visitors annually.
18 - Misr Public Library - Kafr El Dawar
Opening: The library opened on 11/25/2019
Location: The library is located in the public library building of the local unit of the center and city of Kafr al-Dawwar.
Library Components The library consists of two buildings. The first building consists of two floors and includes a hall for youth and a hall for adults. The second building consists of a ground floor and two floors and includes a children’s hall, a seminar hall, and a training hall. There is a garden between the two buildings with an area of 350 square meters. The library’s holdings number 1,250 cultural materials divided between children’s and adult books in all fields of human knowledge in Arabic and foreign languages. The number of cultural activities provided to beneficiaries is about 720 activities, in which 3,570 participants participate.
The number of visitors is about 5,760 visitors annually.
19 - Egypt Public Library - Faqus
Library name: Faqus Public Library of Egypt (Eastern Branch)
Opening date: 11/18/2020
Library address: Al-Sayyid Hussein Street, in front of Al-Attar Mosque, Faqus City, Sharkia Governorate. Building components: The main entrance. The building shares the ground floor with the Governor’s Hall (currently the headquarters of the Safe City for Women), with a separate entrance from the library. A first upper floor includes (a computer lab, a cafeteria, a collectibles store, a children’s activities hall, and a children’s information room). A second upper floor includes (an adult training lab + the branch director’s office + a public relations office + a subscriptions and treasury office + a multi-room hall + an adult activities hall + a youth and adult information hall. An upper third floor with a library roof prepared for holding sports and entertainment activities and theatrical performances. Number of holdings: 11,500. Number of cultural activities: 350. Number of active members: 3,500.
20- Egypt Public Library - Ezbet El-Borg
Opening date 5/18/2021
Library address: Al-Fanar Street, next to the local unit - Ezbet Al-Burj
Building components
The basement contains a storehouse for cultural materials and supplies, and technical processing of cultural materials. Ground floor: lending and subscriptions department, a meeting room, and library administration.
The first floor is a children’s library: for the age group from 3-15 years, and there is a training hall
Computer, model workshop hall, multimedia hall, photography office. Second floor: Adult Library: consisting of two reading rooms, a conference and seminar room, a computer room , an Internet room, and a photocopying office.
The third floor is a roof: open, and a cafeteria to serve members over the total area of the building and the garden
Number of holdings : 4,255. Number of cultural activities : 3,500. Number of active members : 5,500
21 - Egypt Public Library - Assiut
Opening date: 10/31/2022
Library address: Al-Thawra Street, in front of Al-Mabarrah Hospital, next to Dar Al-Arqam School. The building’s components consist of two floors, the first floor for children and contains a reading hall and a hall for activities and games to develop children’s personal and mental skills. The second floor is designated for adults and contains a reading hall, a hall for quiet study, a language training lab, an activity hall equipped with the latest devices and means of presentation and communication appropriate for holding various events, and a computer training lab equipped with the latest devices, interactive screens, and audio aids necessary to provide various training courses on computer programs and languages. It is attached to a garden. The number of holdings is 35,000, the number of cultural activities is 5,200 , and the number of active members is 3,400.
22 - Egypt Public Library - Al-Qusayr
Opening date: 11/21/2022
Library address: Al-Quseir - Old Port Said Street, next to Shounat Al-Ghalal. Library components: Building 1, Adult Hall - Conferences, Loan - Administration - Multiple Activities - Kamal Hammam Hall for Heritage Revival, Building 2, Halls (Children - Youth) (Computer ), Number of holdings: 16, 000
Number of cultural activities 4200
Number of active members : 1700
23 - Egypt Public Library - Siwa
(Green Library)
Opening date: 11/24/2022
Library address: Siwa Oasis
Library components: The library, built on an environmental and heritage system, includes a conference and lecture hall, a children’s hall, a training hall for women on handicrafts and heritage, and an information library. Number of holdings: 12,000 .
Number of cultural activities: 4,500
Number of active members: 1400
24 - Egypt Public Library - Al-Delanjat
Opening date: 12/7/2022
Library address: In front of the local unit of the center and city of Dalangat
Library components: The main building consists of three floors
Ground floor: It contains a reception hall and an information hall for adults that provides library and information services in general knowledge, psychology and philosophy, religions, social sciences, languages and pure sciences. It also includes book titles in the sciences.
Applied arts and literature, history, geography and biographies.
The first floor is upper and contains a reading room for young people. It serves the age group of 11-15 years, and provides office and information services in simplified general knowledge
Religions, social sciences, languages, as well as simple pure sciences, sciences
Simple applied arts, literature and history.
The floor also contains a children’s reading hall that serves children from the age of 3 to 10 years and contains a large collection of stories and books suitable for children and a group of educational games and games aimed at developing children’s personal, intellectual and scientific skills. Some activities for children are held there, such as drawing workshops, improving calligraphy and crafts. Art crafts, music and other activities
And workshops for children with special needs.
The second, upper floor: It contains a computer science training hall and an administrative training hall.
Training courses on various computer programs and digital transformation courses are held there. All related training programs aim to raise the efficiency of workers in the administrative apparatus in Dalangat and develop their skills.
The library garden contains a wooden pergola for waiting and holding various activities, a cafeteria for library patrons, and outdoor restrooms.
Number of holdings: 2900 Number of cultural activities 220 Number of active members 530
25 - Egypt Public Library - Qena
Opening date: 6/15/2023
Library address: Qena - Dolphin Square
Library Components The library consists of a basement, ground floor, and 4 upper floors that include a “children’s library, an adult library, a cafeteria meeting room, a cinema hall, a language training hall, a computer hall, a parking garage in the basement and an outdoor courtyard, a book exhibition area, and an outdoor activity area for children.” “An open reading area, a shaded reading area.” Number of holdings: 14,000. Number of cultural activities: 3,500. Number of active members : 3,200.
26 - Misr Public Library - Bani Adiyat
Opening date: 11/19/2023
Library address: Bani Adiyat Village, Manfalut Center - Assiut Governorate
Library components: The first floor consists of:
Two children's information rooms
Children's activity hall
The second floor consists of:
Senior hall
Youth hall
Computer training center
Number of possessions: 8000 books and 12 computers
Number of cultural activities: 950
Number of active members : 1100
27 - Egypt Public Library - Aswan
Opening date: 1/20/2024
Library address: Sadat Road, in front of the Radio and Television Building
Building components
The adults' information hall and the children's games corner include a large multi-purpose meeting hall, training seminar rooms and their annexes, a computer hall, a communications and information center, an outdoor theatre, service rooms, archives, a cafeteria, a landscape, and a basement.
Number of holdings: 2733 books
Libraries ready to open
28- Misr Public Library - Thebes, Luxor
29- Misr Public Library - Damas, Dakahlia
30 - Misr Public Library - Qantara East, Ismailia
Libraries under construction
31 - Egypt Public Library - Denshway, Menoufia
32 - Misr Public Library - Shebin El-Kom, Menoufia
33 - Misr Public Library - Shubra Al-Kheima, Qalyubia
34 - Misr Public Library - Al-Omraniya Giza Branch
35- Misr Public Library - Dakhla, New Valley