Brainstorming starts at Bibliotheca Alexandrina
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Accredited Professors and Librarians from both Egypt and the United States started a closed brainstorming workshop at Bibliotheca Alexandrina on how to achieve a strong Digital Library.
The workshop was chaired by Dr. William A. Wulf, a distinguished Professor of Computer science, President of the National Academy of Engineering and BOT member at BA, the workshop started with getting the 12 participants acquainted in order to create a friendly working environment among them. The U.S. delegation was included Dr. Sidney Karin, a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD), Mr. Michael Keller, University Librarian and Director of the Academic Information Resources at Stanford University, Ms. Ann Okerson, an Associate Librarian at Yale University, Dr. Charles Henry, Vice Provost and University Librarian at Rice University, Dr. James O’Donnell, Provost and Professor of Classics dept. at Georgetown University, and Mrs. Rhonda Shearer, the Director of WTC Living History Project and the Executive Committee of the International Civil Protection Project, New York and BOT member at BA. Representing the Egyptian delegation were Dr. Ismail Serageldin, the Director of BA, Dr. Magdy Nagi, the Head of the ICT Sector and the Director of ISIS at BA, Dr. Noha Adly the Director of the ICT dept. at BA, Dr. Fathi Saleh, the Director of CultNat, Dr. Bernard Salomé, the Special Representative of the Director at BA, and Dr. Ahmed Darwish, a Professor of Computer Engineering.
The first day was divided into two main sessions, during which definitions and means to achieve a Digital Library were discussed followed by the creation of possible scenarios of its realization.
During the second day these scenarios were closely looked at, analyzed, iterated and modified to develop possible actions and implications to achieve the envisioned digital future in Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
The round-table brainstorming workshop taking place at Nobel Room for two days was an inspiration to all the participants that persuaded them of looking forward to future meetings and cooperation.