Distinguished Italian author Umberto Eco visited the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) today and delivered a lecture on the vegetal and mineral memories and the future of the book. Ismail Serageldin welcomed Dr. eco and chaired the meeting and the debate that was very well attended. Many distinguished visitors came from Cairo and attended the lecture and participated in the debate. Dr. Eco was accompanied by a distinguished group of Italian bibliophiles who each donated a book of their choice to the BA