From the Bibliotheca Alexandriana to the New Library of Alexandria. Basic Mission Statements of the Libraries in Changing Times

Education needed writing and books from the very beginning and the place of orientation in accumulated knowledge became the library. Kings and emperors who were fond of science liked to possess the entire tradition in their libraries. The first universal, all inclusive library in Alexandria came into being with this very purpose. The question, however, is whether it was the only purpose the founders had in mind. With the re-establishment of the Library of Alexandria in 2002 another question rises: what was the purpose of its founders? How did they manage to realize their goal? Is there a difference between the two acts of foundation? Is there a difference in purpose and intention between the Library of Alexandria and national libraries? The discussions turned around four major issues: what is the purpose of the establishment (to found), what will the library be like as a building, workplace and what the process of work will there be like (to integrate), how should the library take care of the preservation of documents (to preserve), and how should the collection of tradition be used (to create)