Primary contact
Corniche El Nil, Ramlet Boulak
Cairo
EG
Identity area
Identifier
EG
Authorized form of name
Egyptian National Library and Archives
Parallel form(s) of name
Other form(s) of name
Type
- National
Contact area
Contact
Primary contact
Type
Address
Street address
Corniche El Nil, Ramlet Boulak
Locality
Cairo
Region
Country name
Egypt
Postal code
Telephone
02-25751078 / 02-25752883 / 02-25750886
Fax
02-202-25789547
Note
Description area
History
The Egyptian National Library was proposed by minister Ali Pasha Mubarak, minister of public works, to Khedive Ismail in 1870. The library, which was known then as Khedivial Kutub Khana, was first located at the ground floor of Prince Mustafa Fadel’s palace in Darb Al Gamamiz.
In 1889, the library was moved to the Salamlek of the same palace. Later, Khedive Tawfiq ordered a new facility to host the growing collection, but this was not accomplished until the time of Khedive Abbas Helmy II. In 1904 a new building in Bab Al Khalq opened its doors to the public housing both the National Library and the Museum of Islamic Art.
In the 70’s, a newer building was built on the Corniche, with an adjacent one for the archives, but Bab Al Khalq Library is still functioning and houses a museum.