The second larger city in Egypt is Alexandria, extends about 32 km along the coast of the Mediterranean sea in Egypt, it is home to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina – the New Library of Alexandria. It is both a commemoration of the Library of Alexandria that was lost in antiquity and an attempt to rekindle something of the brilliance that this earlier center of study and erudition represented. Construction work began in 1995 and, after some 220 million $ had been spent, the complex was officially inaugurated on October 16, 2002.
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, partly submerged in a pool of water, tries to live up to an ancient tradition. Located near the site of the ancient library of Alexandria, this modern version is an eleven-story, cylindrical-shaped building that houses more than eight million books. The library’s architecture is equally striking. The main reading room stands beneath a 32-meter-high glass-panelled roof, tilted out toward the sea like a sundial, and measuring some 160 m in diameter. The library saves over 5 million volume-books. It is on 11 levels in condition as well it looks like the sun sign of ancient Egypt. The new building is with area 40 130 square m. There are 9 group-study rooms with 92 study places and three information hives with 66 study places. The hives are equipped with cables for data communications and electrical wiring, so student may use laptops of their own or borrow one from the Learning Centre. The complex also houses a conference center; specialized libraries for the blind, for young people, and for children; three museums; four art galleries; a planetarium; and a manuscript restoration laboratory.

Alexandria Learning Centre is a service centre for both students and teachers of the University of Helsinki. Experts in teaching, information service and information technology provide consultation and advice on the use of Alexandria’s state-of-the-art facilities. The centrally located learning centre is also a meeting place for students. Classroom is not reserved for courses and training it is at the disposal of library users. Terminals that can be accessed even without user ID can be found from Circulation floor lobby. Alexandria Learning Centre also has about 350 computers for independent study. The 70 computers on the first floor are reserved for quick use. On the top floor, there are 20 computers for multimedia work and for watching online lectures.
The enormous room is envisioned for 3500 visitors, each book can be found with help to computer. The circulating library disposes :Copying machines – they are located on the first floor under the stairs. The Undergraduate Library has copying machine on the Service and Collections Floors. Public telephone -There is a public telephone in the Undergraduate Library on the first floor in the lobby area by the lifts there is a telephone which can be used for making calls inside the University. Video presenting - In order to view the video, you need Real Player, which can be downloaded from the University of Helsinki Centre. In addition to the library, Alexandria’s computers are also in heavy use year round. During terms, nearly all 350 computers are continually taken in the afternoons and even in summer – apart from July, which is the traditional holiday month in Finland – the utilisation rate is approximately 60 percent.
The Theology Library holds a collection of modern theological literature and aims to maintain a good selection of important theological journals and publication series. The library also provides theological information services for the public in addition to the university community. Arts Library is provides information services for research and teaching in the science of Art and Humanities. It is open to the public and comprises nine different library units (philology, aesthetics, translation, linguistic, …). Social Science Library is provides information services to the public and the university community. The collection of the Library comprise the fields of communication, economics and social history, political, and…other.

Children’s Library: If you are between 6 and 11 years of age and are looking for fun, knowledge, entertainment and education, do not miss this opportunity! Come to the Children’s Library at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina main building, first floor, and jump into the fun.

The library is seen as a progressive landmark for the country as a whole, reinstating Egypt on the map as an open, modern centre of cultural exchange. The idea of a universal library, like that of Alexandria, had to wait for historic changes that would help to develop a new mental outlook which could envisage and encompass the whole world.