The Bibliothèque Générale was created 1924, and became the Bibliothèque Générale et Archives (BGA) in 1926. In 2003 Morocco began planning to build a new library consistent with modern standards and practices. The library was renamed the Bibliothèque Nationale du Royaume du Maroc.
The new facility opened on October 15, 2008 between Boulevard Ibn Hazm et boulevard Ibn Khaldoun, in the center of Rabat. Though thoroughly contemporary in design, the building is evocative of traditional architecture. The tower, topped with a glass structure decorated with modern Arabic calligraphy, intentionally recalls the square minaret that is iconic in the Maghreb. There are also a courtyard garden. The new library was designed with a particular emphasis on making knowledge accessible to all, especially young people. Outdoor spaces can also be used for performances and events. For example, since the summer of 2012 the library has run an annual event called al-Layla al-Baydaa' (The Sleepless Night) that featured film screenings from 9 pm until 6 am. The next day talks are held inside the library about the film. The library offers ample reading space, as well as an exhibition gallery, meeting spaces, entertainment and training rooms, 300-seat auditorium and a cafeteria.
The tower of the library houses rare materials on movable shelving. The 11-story, climate-controlled facility is nearly 35 meters tall, with a glass top that rises an additional 9 meters. Though located in the suburb of Agdal, adjacent to the Agdal Gardens and not in downtown Rabat, the library is conveniently situated on the the Rabat-Salé Tramway, part of the regional urban planning effort to adjust congestion and reduce pollution from vehicles.
SOURCE:
Bibliothèque Nationale du Royaume du Maroc. “Historique de la BNRM.” Accessed June 15, 2014. http://www.bnrm.ma/fr/bibliotheque/bnrm/historique.html
".الدورة الثالثة لليلة البيضاء للسينما وحقوق الإنسان يومي 20 و21 يونيو الجاري بالرباط" Accessed February 20, 2015. http://www.menara.ma/ar/2014/06/13/1214595-الدورة-الثالثة-لليلة-البيضاء-للسينما-وحقوق-الإنسان-يومي-20-و21-يونيو-الجاري-بالرباط.html
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