Alexandria, Egypt - The new library of Alexandria features recently
unearthed antiquities, priceless Middle Eastern manuscripts and rare
maps. But the highlight of Egypt's modern-day revival of the legendary
center of classical learning is not an ancient artifact or even a book.
Prominently displayed in a glass-encased room near the library's
entrance are 200 Hewlett-Packard PCs containing copies of nearly every
public Web page posted since 1996.
A duplicate of San Francisco's Internet Archive, Egypt's mammoth
digital register is an electron-powered manifestation of the Egyptian
government's high-tech aspirations. Eager to revitalize a sagging
economy and anxious to retain the mantle of Arab leadership, Egypt has
been embracing everything from free Internet access to smart villages....
The Web site of the library of Alexandria currently offers 1,000
archival films and 2,000 hours of Egyptian and American television. The
images are shaky over a standard dial-up connection, but the message is
made clear to anyone who logs in: Egypt, steeped in history, is also
part of the digital future.
