Written by Athina Pfeiffer and Mathias Ghyoot (2024)

INtroduction

AUC Library has a large collection of books, periodicals, and private archives related to the history of modern Egypt. Given the foreign character of AUC, large parts of the collection is related to the history of foreigners, mainly Americans and Brits, in Egypt.

AUC Library also holds a small collection of manuscripts related to the Near East (in Arabic, Coptic, English, etc.) and a box of Ottoman documents which are progressively being digitized and made available on the website of the AUC Library.

AUC Library is open Sunday through Thursday from 8:30am to 10pm. Hours may differ for the Rare Books and Special Collections Library (RBSCL). Please check the website.

Location: Google Maps

GOING THERE

AUC has two campuses: the old one on Tahrir Square and a new one in New Cairo. For the library, you’ll want to go to the new one, so fetch a taxi or an Uber to New Cairo.

GETTING IN

To access the library - or even the campus - you’ll need an official invitation from AUC. That invitation is most efficiently secured by contacting AUC Library. You’ll need to send a photocopy of your passport via email. AUC Library will in turn send you an invitation via email which you will show the security guards at Gate 4. Remember to bring your physical passport. From Gate 4, you’ll head to the AUC Library through either “Pepsi Gate” or the “Bus Terminal Gate.” While the main reading rooms are located on the first and second floor, the Rare Books and Special Collections Library (RBSCL) is located on the third floor. Grab the elevator to the right of the circulation desk. Once at the RBSCL, you’ll have to leave your bag in a locked locker at the entrance.

Finding your material

There are two main online catalogs of the AUC Library: an old one and a new one. We prefer the old one. AUC Library provides free wifi. 

Archives, Books, and Periodicals: You can get a sense of which collections are accessible through the website of the AUC Rare Books and Special Collections Library (RBSCL). However, finding aids for specific archives can only be secured by writing to the librarians directly.

Manuscripts: It is unclear whether all the manuscripts are catalogued online, and so instead, a librarian will provide you with a spreadsheet of the manuscripts on-site.

Ordering your material

Manuscripts: Write to the librarians that you wish to check out their manuscript collection. They will prepare for you a cart with all the manuscripts held in AUC Library and bring it to you in the Manuscript Reading Room which is located at the entrance of the RBSCL on the right. You’ll be free to take a look at them all.

Archives, Books, and Periodicals: Simply let the circulation desk know, either on the first floor or on the third floor of the RBSCL.

Ordering scans

You’re free to take photographs of the material that you’ve ordered (manuscripts, archives, and books). However, there is no onsite scanner available to users, so if you wish to scan you’re material you’ll need to let the librarians know. They will in turn ask you to fill out a form and the scanning will be done - for a fee - by a professional digitizer at the AUC Library. Once completed, you can receive the scan either via email, print-out, or USB.

Food and well-being

AUC’s campus in New Cairo is huge and there are plenty of cafeterias, restaurants, and cafes at which you can buy food and beverages. Bathrooms are located on all floors of the AUC Library.

ADDITIONAL REMARKS

Don’t forget to visit the AUC Bookstore which stores titles from the AUC Press and Hoopoe.

AUC Library is progressively digitizing its RBSCL and is making it available online.