Bibliotheca Alexandria – an experience

My wife and I have been to Bibliotheca Alexandria seeking a quiet place to work at and read. Well, it wasn’t as we’d hoped for.

First, we had to leave out belongings at the safekeeping (even my wife’s handbag). They told me to leave my laptop outside, but after convincing them that it was essential to take it inside as it carried most of my work, they told me to “register” it at some employee entrance. So, I went there and …

  • Security Guy: What is the computer’s type?
  • “Dell” [he wrote down the word along with my name on a piece of paper].
  • Security Guy: You’re OK to take your computer inside from the customers’ entrance.
  • Aren’t you going to give me anything to prove the registration?
  • Security Guy: No.

So, I went to the customers’ entrance, and as I expected:

  • Security Guy: You have to leave that bag outside.
  • That’s my laptop which carry my work, and I already registered it.
  • Security Guy: Where’s the registration proof?
  • They gave me nothing.
  • Security Guy: Where did you register it?
  • At some entrance down that way.
  • Security Guy: mmmmm….., What was the registration employee wearing? (I laughed to hell but kept my face straight).
  • well, he was wearing the same uniform you’re wearing.
  • Security Guy: You’re Ok to enter then.

    Another entrance
  • Security Guy: You have to register your laptop.
  • I already did.
  • Security Guy: Where?
  • A couple of entrances back.
  • Security Guy: mmm… OK.

I asked for some way to “permanently” register my laptop, and they said they don’t have that sort of service, so, everytime I go there I have to go through the same process.

Now, Inside. I went straight to the computer books. Very small collection of books dated back from the 1990’s. I guess mostly donated by other-counties’ libraries (It’s safe to say they were thrown away by them). Also, I should mention that borrowing is not allowed.

Well, the moral of the story: even though some could claim that Bibliotheca Alexandria is one of the best public library ever constructed. It’s really hard to say that it provides the level of service (if any) to the public similar to that tiniest, badly constructed library in some “civilized” country.
https://tamersalama.com/2004/12/28/bibliotheca-alexandria-an-experience/
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