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I'm a book addict, so I have to ask this question. One of the first things I do when I move to a new city is find the public library and get a card. Are there public libraries in Egypt? Or, conversely, what does a book-addicted, English speaker do to get something to read? I prefer libraries because I read pretty fast, so if I have to buy my books, my apartment will soon be filled with nothing but bookshelves...
WOTEVER Member # 11942
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i don't know about libaries, but the book fair is good, you can find new and used books in good condition for cheap prices
newcomer Member # 1056
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Hi treesloth!
My guess it that you would find as many libraries that carry English books in Tanta as you would in libraries that carry Arabic books in small towns in Middle America. You may get an odd English science textbook, but probably not much more than that.
Egytians, on the whole, aren't big readers, and certainly not of English books, even Mrs. Mubarak has had her own little campaign to get Egyptians to read more by providing cheap paperback versions of novels. And it is rare to go into a home in Egypt and see bookshelves, unless the people are academics or religious people.
Following WOTEVER's advice and heading down to the Cairo bookfair once a year in January or going to Sour El-Ezbekiyyah in Cairo every once in a while to stock up on second-hand books might be your best bet.
*Albino_Eskimo* Member # 12077
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All Saints Cathedral Library 5 Mishil Lutfallah Zamalek, 736-8391
American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) Library 2 Qasr al-Dubara, GC 794-8239 795-8683 796-4681 797-2429 792-2023 email: arce@internetegypt.com Head Librarian: Mr. Hammam Fawzi
American Studies Library US Embassy 5 Amrika al-Latiniya, DT 797-3133 797-3295
Spanish Cultural Center Library 20 Bulus Hanna, DK 760-1746
UNESCO Library 8 'Abd al-Rahman Fahmi, GC 794-3066/5599
US Agency for International Development Information Center Cairo Center 5 Latin American St, GC 797-3225 738-5/3357 Head Librarian: Soad Saada
NourHayati Member # 5507
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That's great!!!!
MyKingdomForATaba2Koshari Member # 8356
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Treesloth, as you can see from the post of AE, fancy libraries with good English books are only in Cairo and Alexandria.
*Albino_Eskimo* Member # 12077
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quote:Originally posted by MyKingdomForATaba2Koshari: Treesloth, as you can see from the post of AE, fancy libraries with good English books are only in Cairo and Alexandria.
Get on a West Delta bus and you are in Cairo within 45 minutes.
Make a day of it. Cripes what is the price for a one way ticket into Cairo on a West Delta bus?
Last time I used the bus it was 30LE. But I can't remember and I didn't pay for myself.
newcomer Member # 1056
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To get access to many of those libraries you would have to be a member to be able to take books out and they aren't all open to the public. The AUC libraries for example are only open to students of the university. The cheapest one to join seems to be the Zamalek Cathederal library and they have quite a wide range of English books in stock.
*Albino_Eskimo* Member # 12077
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quote:Originally posted by newcomer: To get access to many of those libraries you would have to be a member to be able to take books out and they aren't all open to the public. The AUC libraries for example are only open to students of the university. The cheapest one to join seems to be the Zamalek Cathederal library and they have quite a wide range of English books in stock.
Actually the AUC library is pricey! For the average joe its $500 a year. But if you are a associate scholar (forget the wording of it) its cheaper and if you already have an advanced degree you can apply for a "fellow without a stipend" which makes the membership free.
CSA in Maadi is open to the public for an annual fee of 100LE.
According to the book I am quoting (from where I got the list) all of those libraries are open to the public. Some for a price and some are actually free but must sign up for a membership.
I am a library troll. I spend more on library fines per year than I do clothes. So one of the first aspects of expatriate life in Cairo I looked into was the libraries.
Personally the cost of taking a few graduate courses at Cairo University can get you into the AUC as an "associate fellow" at a much reduced cost. Which is what I am looking at.
belly_wigggla Member # 9626
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There's a bookshop in Maadi that will deliver books to any address in Egypt... www.cairobookmark.com
Chinderella on the Left wing Member # 11953
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quote:Originally posted by belly_wigggla: There's a bookshop in Maadi that will deliver books to any address in Egypt... www.cairobookmark.com
WOW that's cool....Thanks belly
NotSleeplessInCairo Member # 8452
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There is a bookstore in Maadi on Road 9 called the Book Stop, they sell second hand books and when you finish with them you can take them back and exchange them for a lower price. Same concept as Bookmark when they had a physical store.
Road 9 under Baskin robbins... get the metro to Maadi station.. turn right and keep walking, it's on the left hand side.
treesloth Member # 12025
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Wow! Glad to meet some fellow bookworms! Thank you...this will be very helpful! I was thinking of taking courses at AUC if I could afford it anyways, so that might be a good idea....
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