In a time when 21st century readers are torn between preferences for hardcopy books and their alternative softcopies, the city of St Catherine in Sinai was –until quite recently- free of any public libraries. It wasn’t until May 2015 that the local community of St Catherine celebrated their first ever public library – the opening of which caused almost as much of a stir as the books themselves. Currently home to over 2000 donated books, the St Catherine library came to life under the auspices of Dr. Sherif Samra and his NGO, Nawamis Development Society, in collaboration with Makhad Trust and the American University in Cairo (AUC). With a rich history in the sustainable development of Bedouin societies in Sinai, Nawamis Development Society and Makhad Trust led the various arrangements with the St Catherine City Council, whose Mayor has donated one of the City Council’s rooms to host the library until a more convenient facility is available. The AUC, meanwhile, generously donated around 1200 used books, which cover a range of topics including philosophy, religion, geography, history and children’s books. Another 800 books were donated by the Ministry of Culture….
St Catherine’s Local Community Welcomes Its First Ever Public Library
June 15, 2015
