3.9 Million Images in One Year: Digitisation Reshapes Egypt’s National Library

Egypt’s National Library and Archives is moving beyond the physical safekeeping of its collections, using digitisation as a key tool to protect heritage and make it accessible to researchers and the public.

With 3.9 million images captured in a single year, the scale of the effort highlights the institution’s shift towards digital preservation.

The collections include books, manuscripts, maps and historical photographs. Protecting these materials is no longer limited to storing the originals securely; it also involves creating digital records of their contents.

Technological advances are helping the institution connect preservation with access. Digitisation offers a way to safeguard the knowledge held in its collections while opening it to a wider audience.

The transition marks a new phase for the National Library and Archives, with digital access becoming an essential part of its role alongside the care of physical holdings.