ArsTechnica pointed to an article about efforts underway in Egypt to build a digital version of the famous library of Alexandria.
Later this year, a state-of-the-art research facility opens in Alexandria, transforming legend back into reality. Announcing the project, Egyptian first lady Suzanne Mubarak vowed the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina would be “a digital lighthouse for the world.” Many countries are contributing precious archival holdings on microfilm or CD-ROM and returning documents confiscated during wars and occupations.
According to the library’s web site, “he Egyptian Government, in close co-operation with UNESCO, has decided to build a new library in Alexandria to endow this part of the world with an important focal point for culture, education and science.”
The only problem being, of course, that the Egyptian government regularly outlaws books that Muslims find offensive, and still tries and jails academics and intellectuals for crimes like blasphemy. The idea of free inquiry and expression — and its preservation in the legal system — would be a far worthier endeavor than building a library.