End of Semester Book Donation Drive

If you have high-quality books in English, French, or Arabic that you'd rather not carry home, or if you can otherwise spare them, there's now a way to donate them to a good cause. A new effort, called the 100 Books Project (www.100booksproject.org), is starting small lending libraries of the best available literature and non-fiction in locations around Egypt.

Your used book in good condition will be made available to the public at one of three locations:

--A new cafe, library and teaching center opening in the oasis of Siwa. Scheduled opening date: Fall 2008.

--A small book lending collection of exceptional books at Al Balad Cultural Center, a great new bookstore at 31 Shari'a Mohammed Mahmoud, just across from the main AUC gate, on the first floor next to Cilantro.

---A few book exchange shelves to be started at other cafes in Cairo (the kind of thing you may have seen at a backpacker hostel somewhere during your travels)

The idea here is to increase access to books we have really enjoyed, and to help contribute to the development of Egypt's vibrant literary culture. As you know, new, imported books are quite expensive here in Cairo, and thus can be out of reach for many. You can drop your books in a clear plastic donation container at one of two locations:

--The Arabic Language Institute office at AUC (third floor of the main building behind the fountain court, main campus), until June 1.
--Al Balad Cultural Center and Bookstore, indefinitely. (directions above)

If you don't see the plastic container at first, please ask at the location for assistance.

Questions? Email sharon[@]100booksproject[.]org, or undergraduate project coordinator at isaac.reg[@]gmail[.]com.