Library of Alexandrina Virtually Rises from the Ashes

The Library of Alexandria was destroyed by fire around 48 BC and opened again for business in 2002 AD. Some ways libraries and publications work have not changed in 2000 years, despite the use of computers, but the Bibliotheca Alexandrina has gone hi-tech:

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina intends to become an active member among the leading digital institutions in the world. Towards that goal, the BA has embarked on a whole array of ambitious projects, in partnership with world class institutions. These range from hosting a mirror site for a significant part of the Internet Archive, participating in the Million Book Project, organizing the digital archive of the Gamal Abdel Nasser collection, presenting the first ever complete digital version of the Description de l'Egypte, to participating in advanced research such as the Arabic component of the UN-sponsored Universal Digital Language computerized multi-language translation program and offering the most advanced 3D virtual imaging techniques in an virtual immersive environment for Science and Technology (S&T) applications. Thus, despite being barely four years in existence, the BA has already a substantial record of achievements.

From Born Digital The New Bibliotheca Alexandria, Ismail Serageldin, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, 01-10-2006, http://www.bibalex.org/english/Publication/Attachments/Files/BornDigital_links.pdf