Egyptian National Library and Archives, National library and archives in Ramlet Boulac District, Cairo, Egypt.
The Egyptian National Library and Archives is a seven-story building along the Nile Corniche in Cairo holding millions of books and historical documents. Its reading rooms contain materials in Arabic and other Oriental languages.
The institution was founded in 1870 under Khedive Ismail as Khedivial Kutub Khana. It relocated several times before settling at its current riverside location.
The collection shows how Egyptians lived and worked across centuries, through manuscripts, coins, and documents that capture everyday moments. These objects tell stories of family, trade, and society in earlier times.
Visitors need a Reader's Pass to access the reading rooms and catalogs with materials in many languages. It helps to know what type of documents you want beforehand for more efficient navigation.
The collection holds Arabic papyri from the 7th century containing purchase contracts, rental agreements, marriage records, and tax documents. These texts offer a rare window into everyday transactions and legal matters from a distant era.
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