A universe inside a Library | Al-Saeh

    For any passionate reader, a large library is one of the most peaceful places to be in. Wandering among the shelves, touching the skin of each book, blowing off the dust from upon the covers, ignoring the motion of the universe and the life they'e engaged to, outside the library.

     You feel overwhelmed by the smell of the old brown papers, and the amount of knowledge that's surrounding you. 

The first time I visited the library i thought to myself  "This is what I was searching for, where has it been for so long!?".

     The biggest library dwells in the heart of the city Tripoli of Lebanon, in one of the old streets in there.

The main door of the library

Now you see!

The lost treasure is finally found, no map was needed but a friend who knew the owner long time ago, and he suggested to pay him a visit...

Once you enter, all you see is books all over the place, literally everywhere. You barely have a bare ground to walk upon, and a space filled with air just to breathe.

And actually I was surprised when I saw the Bathroom...

I held my Camera and started shooting, It's like a maze honestly,  tight route intersecting with another, the walls are simply shelves filled up with books, some were dusty, some were clean, some were still not sorted yet..

The books are covered by plastic bags
 to protect them from dust.

the shelves, and the tight dark route.

The view from the attic.

The info in this article are based on an interview with the Father Ibrahim Sarrouj (owner).

The Owner Father Ibrahim Sarrouj

- Rimal: " When was this library launched?"

- Father Sarrouj: "The library was launched in the 1972 (almost 40 years ago), and we moved to this real estate since 1980, so about 33 years in the same location"

- " what is the area of the library?"

- " Around 500 to 600 meters squared."

- "How many libraries sold their books to you when they closed?"

- " Oh, they're uncountable! Now we have almost 84150 titles (books and folders), a title means that it could be an Encyclopedia or even a small book, a magazine. For example "Christian wars" contains 52 folders. so it's only one title.
For forty years we have been working and gathering books at every chance, and we do this everything with open hands, we can't say "No" for knowledge, unless the spoiler and deceiver types of knowledge."

- "Do tourists visit the library?"

- " Tourists in Tripoli are few, and when they come most of them don't buy any, I offer them books usually, I'll offer you one if you read French, Mahmoud give her that book, you know it '''Le chevauche'e magnifique d'Europe''' for Martine Hiebel. "

- "Why do you Give them that book specifically as a gift?"

- " Because it's a french book that talks about our countries and that Europe is a god that has originated from our lands"

The father asked the employee to give me the french book since Mahmoud my friend  Couldn't find it. 

And he told him: " Exhaust your self, and not your tongue"

 It was a good & rich experience, I just love to sit with an old intellectual man, he kept  on talking about what kind of books one can find in the library, he stated some examples such as mythological books, all kind of references for a literature or other PhD, magic books (even though he mentioned that he doesn't like magic books, he considered them as spoiler type of knowledge, but he also said that he respects all opinions, some people are interested in this and he doesn't interfere)

And He added, my banner is Islamic "[..] and sow wasteful The spendthrifts were brothers of the devils [..]
That's why in every available area, we made shelves, even in the bathroom. we should not waste any space."


You can visit the official website of the Library by clicking HERE
Phone: 06 43 15 49
Mobile: 03 29 57 51
Fax: 06 44 81 89
Email: assaeh@.saehlib.com
Address: Tripoli, Lebanon Rahebat Street.

I'll let you discover the library by checking the photo's below
for more check the link