Yale University Library: OACIS

Middle East visit - Ann Okerson and Simon Samoeil - March 2004

In Egypt
First, at the Biblioteca Alexandrina, in Alexandria, Ann Okerson, Yale Library's AUL for Collection Development, participated in a digital brainstorming session at the library and toured the library's impressive facilities. Ann met with Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Chairman and CEO and Dr. Noha Adly, IT Director. Travel arrangements were expertly handled by Ms. Alyaa Ali, Head of Travel Unit.

Bibliotheca Alexandria scanning at the Bibliotheca Alexandria
Digitization facility at the Bibliotheca Alexandria

Then, at the National Archives & Library of Egypt, in Cairo, Ann and Simon Samoeil, Yale's Near East Curator, met with Professor Ahmed Morsi, Chairman, Professor Mohammed Ghandour, Librarian, and Ms. Howayda Kamel, Cultural Affairs Supervisor. They discussed the plans for the migration of the card cataglog at the National Library to an online format and the participation of the National Libary in the OACIS project.

National Archives & Library of Egypt, in Cairo
Mr. Simon Samoeil, Dr. Salah, Ms. Ann Okerson,
Dr. Ahmad Mursi, Mr. George Fawzi, Ms. Dina Nassif.

In Syria
Ann and Simon visited the Assad Library, in Damascus, and met with Professor Ali Aydi, General Director, Assad Library and members of the library staff in the hopes of the Assad Library participating in the OACIS project.

Ann and Simon also had the opportunity to visit with Professor Hani Murtada, Minister of Higher Education, in Damascus.

Entrance to the Assad National Library

In Lebanon
First, at the Université de Balamand, in Tripoli, Mrs. Sameera Bashir, University Librarian and Ms. Randa Al-Chidiac, Systems Librarian, welcomed Ann and Simon to the library where they discussed Balamand's participation in the OACIS project. Prof. Dr. Georges Nahas, Vice President, contributed very useful recommendations for potential participants in France and the UK.

Next, at the American University of Beirut, Ann and Simon met with Dr. Helen Bikhazi, University Librarian and Ms. Fatme Charafeddine, Serials Librarian. They discussed the many and varied aspects of participating in OACIS.

Université de Balamand

Some of the sights along the way

Young Bedouin boy

Transportation options

Taking a short break

In Egypt First, at the Biblioteca Alexandrina, in Alexandria, Ann Okerson, Yale Library's AUL for Collection Development, participated in a digital brainstorming session at the library and toured the library's impressive facilities. Ann met with Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Chairman and CEO and Dr. Noha Adly, IT Director. Travel arrangements were expertly handled by Ms. Alyaa Ali, Head of Travel Unit.
Bibliotheca Alexandria	Digitization facility at the Bibliotheca Alexandria
Then, at the National Archives & Library of Egypt, in Cairo, Ann and Simon Samoeil, Yale's Near East Curator, met with Professor Ahmed Morsi, Chairman, Professor Mohammed Ghandour, Librarian, and Ms. Howayda Kamel, Cultural Affairs Supervisor. They discussed the plans for the migration of the card cataglog at the National Library to an online format and the participation of the National Libary in the OACIS project.
National Archives & Library of Egypt, in Cairo	Mr. Simon Samoeil, Dr. Salah, Ms. Ann Okerson, Dr. Ahmad Mursi, Mr. George Fawzi, Ms. Dina Nassif.
In Syria Ann and Simon visited the Assad Library, in Damascus, and met with Professor Ali Aydi, General Director, Assad Library and members of the library staff in the hopes of the Assad Library participating in the OACIS project. Ann and Simon also had the opportunity to visit with Professor Hani Murtada, Minister of Higher Education, in Damascus.
Entrance to the Assad National Library
In Lebanon First, at the Université de Balamand, in Tripoli, Mrs. Sameera Bashir, University Librarian and Ms. Randa Al-Chidiac, Systems Librarian, welcomed Ann and Simon to the library where they discussed Balamand's participation in the OACIS project. Prof. Dr. Georges Nahas, Vice President, contributed very useful recommendations for potential participants in France and the UK. Next, at the American University of Beirut, Ann and Simon met with Dr. Helen Bikhazi, University Librarian and Ms. Fatme Charafeddine, Serials Librarian. They discussed the many and varied aspects of participating in OACIS.
Université de Balamand
Some of the sights along the way
Young Bedouin boy	Transportation options
Taking a short break