The Egyptian libraries association conference, opened its proceedings with honors to a number of individuals, starting with their host, Ismail Serageldin , the new Librarian of Alexandria. This was the 6th National Conference for Librarians and Information Specialists, with the theme of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Window of Egypt on the World. About 300 library professionals from all over Egypt attended it. Topics of the conference included discussions of the future, the image of the BA and its services for children and youth, the blind, as well as its relationship to other national and international libraries, its special collections of manuscripts and their preservation, and the ancient Library of Alexandria.