Since 1997, Libraries Day has been celebrated every 24 October by the Spanish Association of Friends of Children’s and Young People’s Books (link is external), sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Sport,(link is external) in memory of the Sarajevo Library, which was burned down on 25 August 1992 during the siege of Sarajevo.
The Dr. Leila Mezian Library, open to the public since 2017, responds to the mission of the Euro-Arab Foundation to promote academic, scientific and cultural exchange between European and Arab countries and was created within the framework of the International Chair of Amazigh Culture.
This library is the result of the agreement signed by the Euro-Arab Foundation and the Dr. Leila Mezian Foundation, to disseminate the knowledge and cultures of the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa / Middle East and North Africa) and, especially, of the Amazigh people, being the only one of its kind in Spain and Europe.
Among its objectives is to expand the library collection, increase the number of users of library services and have greater visibility. To this end, several strategies have been devised, both inside and outside the headquarters.
For the growth of the documentary collection of history, sociology, language and literature, we have relied on our donors (AECID, BEEA-CSIC; UGR, Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture, among others). In addition, a financial allocation has been earmarked for the purchase of lots for the Kutub Reading Club.
From the 2020-2021 academic year, we have opted for our Kutub Reading Club in a hybrid format. The new edition of KUTUB, which starts next Thursday, 26 October, will be dedicated to Mediterranean narrative written by women.
Our Library includes various activities such as the organisation of seminars. An example of this is the international seminar held on 28 September on ‘Arabic and Universal Literature: What is the Arabic literary canon?’, organised together with the Sheikh Zayd Prize, one of the main prizes in the world devoted to Arab literature and culture.
It also organises workshops such as the project ‘Bridge between cultures: initiation to the arts of North Africa’, a practical and playful approach to different Arab and Amazigh (Berber) artistic and cultural manifestations, as well as Andalusian cultural heritage. More than 700 schoolchildren and teachers have benefited from our workshops free of charge.
If you wish to contact our Library, you can contact the Library Manager, Naima Anahnah, by e-mail: biblioteca@fundea.org(link sends e-mail) or by telephone on 958 206 508.
Or you can come and visit us. We are in calle San Jerónimo, 27 in Granada and below you can see our opening hours.
We are waiting for you!
