Somalia receives first Arabic books

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Arab Publishers' Association are preparing to hold an event in support of Somalia’s National Library and the Mogadishu University library as part of a campaign to support the two institutions. The move is aimed at enhancing Arabic culture in Somalia and support education and scientific research in the country. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina has donated 500 published titles. Abdel Kader Bakkar, head of Dar al-Salam Publishing, was the first to donate to the campaign, providing over 200 titles published by his company alone. Senior Bibliotheca official Khaled Azab has also donated 100 titles from his personal library. Many Arab cultural institutions have welcomed the campaign, which aims at collecting 50,000 titles to be added to the two libraries' shelves.