MISR Public Library

What MISR Public Library does

MISR Public Library (مكتبة مصر العامة) is a semi-governmental public cultural institution headquartered in Dokki, Giza, Egypt, operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture. Established in 1995 through a cooperation agreement between Egypt's Ministry of Culture and Germany's Bertelsmann Foundation, the library was later granted independent legal personality by Presidential Decree No. 49 of 2006. Its core offering centers on annual membership-based access to a physical and digital library system, with 33,301 active members across four age-based tiers (children aged 3-15 at 20 EGP/year, youth 16-30 at 30 EGP/year, adults 31-60 at 40 EGP/year, and seniors 60+ at 25 EGP/year), supplemented by family discounts and group institutional lending subscriptions.

The library's product portfolio extends beyond traditional lending to include a Training Center delivering English language courses, ICDL certification, Huawei ICT Academy programs, digital marketing, and assorted professional and hobby workshops; cultural events and seminars (3,829 annually, with 674 hosted in October alone); a Mobile Library Service ('Egypt Reads 1' and 'Egypt Reads 2') serving 19 fixed monthly locations across six cities; and a Gift Shop (Bayt Al-Hadaaya) selling heritage and craft items. Technology infrastructure includes the Medad electronic catalog system for bibliographic search, the IRead digital reading platform, self-service lending kiosks, book delivery service, and digital library access to Springer and ASK ZAd knowledge platforms. The system spans 30+ branches across approximately 20 governorates, including a 4,000 sqm facility at Al-Zawia Al-Hamra funded by a 29 million EGP Danish government grant.

Revenue is generated through four principal streams: annual membership subscriptions, paid training courses and certification programs, monthly book sales and exhibitions, and gift shop retail. The library is governed by a tripartite board appointed by the Ministry of Culture, the Misr Association for Culture and Community Development, and the Bertelsmann Foundation, and receives an annual allocation of approximately 12 million EGP from the Egyptian Public Libraries Fund for regional branch support. The customer base spans Egyptian residents across all age groups, with particular emphasis on children's literacy programs, youth professional development, and senior cultural engagement, reaching both urban centers and underserved governorates via mobile units.

Name

MISR Public Library

Legal name

مكتبة مصر العامة (Misr Public Library)

Website

https://mpl.org.eg

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MISR Public Library is an Egyptian semi-governmental public cultural institution operating 30+ branches and mobile libraries across 20 governorates, serving 33,301+ members through annual subscriptions (20-40 EGP), book lending, training programs, and cultural events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Book lending
• Cultural programs
• Digital library platform
• Community education

Headquarters

HQ city

Gîza

HQ country

Egypt

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Subscriptions: The primary revenue stream is annual membership fees collected from individual members across age-based tiers (children, youth, adults, seniors) and family plans. Fees range from 20 to 40 EGP per person per year plus a 5 EGP martyrs stamp. The library also offers group lending subscriptions for institutions at 40 EGP per subscription with 50–200 books per lending cycle.
2. Training Courses and Programs: Revenue from paid training programs including English language courses, ICDL certification, digital marketing, strategic marketing, Adobe InDesign, personal finance certification, Spanish, Russian, Hindi, German language scholarships, Huawei ICT Academy, and various art and hobby workshops (drawing, jewelry making, leatherwork, concrete arts, candle making, evening dress diploma, etc.).
3. Book Sales and Exhibitions: Monthly used and new book fairs and sales events generate revenue from book sales to the general public.
4. Gift Shop (Bayt Al-Hadaaya): On-site gift shop selling heritage items, Egyptian pottery and ceramics, carved copper pieces, fabric and leather bags, and hand-decorated plates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MISR Public Library is a semi-governmental cultural institution that lends books, magazines, and audio-visual materials to members across multiple physical branches, while also providing digital library access through the Medad catalog and IRead platform. It complements lending with cultural programming (exhibitions, author talks, music and theater events), training and learning programs (languages, digital literacy, professional skills), and community outreach (mobile libraries, school visits, senior programs). Membership is tiered (Standard, Family, Premium) and supports both individual readers and institutional subscribers.

Product overview

MISR Public Library (مكتبة مصر العامة) is a cultural institution network consisting of a main headquarters in Dokki (Giza) plus branches in Zaitoun and Al-Zawia Al-Hamra, plus over 30 regional branches across 20 governorates. The library operates a unified product portfolio centered on core library services (membership, book lending with self-service and group options, book delivery), supplemented by a Training Center offering language courses (English, Spanish, Russian, Hindi, German), professional certifications (ICDL, Huawei ICT Academy, digital marketing), and children's programs (Scratch, Vedic Math, Phonics). Additional offerings include a Mobile Library Service (مصر تقرأ), cultural events and seminars, book sales exhibitions, a gift shop, puppet theater, and art workshops for adults and children. Digital services include the IRead e-book platform, a Digital Library Hall (accessing Springer and ASK ZAd), and an electronic research reference service. The Luxor branch features a unique Culturama heritage documentation center using 3D technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• مصر تقرأ 1 (Egypt Reads 1): First mobile library service visiting 19 fixed locations across 6 major cities
• مصر تقرأ 2 (Egypt Reads 2)
• منصة IRead
• بيت الهدايا (Gift House)

Products and services

• Book and Magazine Lending Service Allows members to borrow books, magazines, and periodicals from physical branches across the network; supports Standard, Family, and Premium membership tiers.
• Audio-Visual Materials Lending Provides members access to audio books, music, and other audio-visual materials for borrowing and on-site use.
• Digital Library (IRead Platform) Online e-book and audiobook platform allowing members to access the digital collection remotely via the IRead platform.
• Medad Catalog and Discovery System Integrated catalog and discovery system used by members and staff to search, locate, and reserve materials across the library's collection.
• Reading Rooms and Study Spaces Physical reading rooms and study areas within library branches that members can access for quiet reading and study.
• Children's Library and Youth Programs Age-appropriate children's collection, storytelling sessions, and youth programs delivered through the Family membership tier and branch activities.
• Cultural Programs and Events Calendar of cultural events including art exhibitions, music and theater performances, and author talks, available to members and the wider public.
• Training and Learning Programs Structured learning programs covering language courses, digital literacy, and professional development skills, delivered on-site and online.
• Institutional Subscription Service Bulk lending access and research support for institutions such as schools, universities, NGOs, and corporate partners, with annual subscription pricing.
• Mobile Library Service Mobile library vans that extend library access to underserved areas and community sites, including school visits.
• Senior Outreach Program Senior-specific programming including social events, accessible reading materials, and free or discounted membership for older readers.
• Online Member Portal Web portal for member self-service, including registration, membership renewal, reservation of materials, and access to digital services.
• Gift Shop and Book Sales Retail outlet at library branches offering books, stationery, and cultural merchandise for purchase by members and visitors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 534,032+ total visitors (physical and virtual) served by the main library
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered founding, core and notable.

• Bertelsmann Foundation (Germany)foundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe founding international partner that established the library through a cooperation agreement with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture in January 1993. Bertelsmann Foundation funded the development and renovation of the main library building, provided technical expertise in public library management, and funded staff salaries for the first three years of operation. This partnership established the foundational model for public libraries in Egypt.
• Ministry of Culture of EgyptcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Egyptian Ministry of Culture is a key founding and governing partner. The library is under the supervision of the Minister of Culture, who appoints one-third of the Board of Directors. The ministry provides institutional backing and policy alignment for the library's cultural mission.
• Misr for Culture and Community Development Association (Egypt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA civil society organization that served as a founding partner, donated the building for the Zeitoon branch, and appoints one-third of the Board of Directors. It is one of three founding entities alongside the Ministry of Culture and Bertelsmann Foundation.
• Ministry of Communications and Information TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides computer equipment, IT infrastructure, and technical expertise to equip regional library branches under a national agreement to support digital transformation and technology access in public libraries.
• National Planning Institute (معهد التخطيط القومي)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerA memorandum of understanding was signed to enhance capacity building and knowledge dissemination, combining the institute's research capabilities with the library's community outreach infrastructure.
• Egyptian Space Agency (وكالة الفضاء المصرية)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerA cooperation protocol was signed between the Egyptian Space Agency and the main library to support space science education and awareness programs through the library's training and cultural platforms.
• Egyptian Banking Institute (المعهد المصرفي المصري)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerA joint digital marketing program was established combining the institute's banking and financial training expertise with the library's training infrastructure to deliver professional development programs.
• Huawei Egypt (أكاديمية هواوي لتقنية المعلومات والاتصالات)notableTechnology or IntegrationA Huawei ICT Academy was established at the library, providing information and communications technology certification programs as a gateway to a digital future for library members.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• OverDrive: Digital lending platform used by thousands of public libraries worldwide for e-books and audiobooks. Comparable to MISR's IRead platform in providing digital lending infrastructure for libraries.
• Internet Archive: Non-profit digital library offering free access to books, media, and archived web content. Overlaps with MISR's digital library and e-book initiatives, particularly IRead and the Springer/ASK ZAd access the library provides.
• Hoopla Digital: Digital content platform offering library patrons borrowing access to e-books, audiobooks, and streaming media. Comparable as an adjacent digital library service but operating as a commercial B2B platform rather than a public library.

Direct peers

• Bibliotheca Alexandrina: Egypt's other major modern public library, located in Alexandria. Comparable as a national-scale public library offering lending, research, digital services, cultural events, and international partnerships; serves a similar segment of Egyptian society and operates under similar government oversight.
• Al-Azhar Public Library / Egyptian National Library and Archives (Dar al-Kutub): Egypt's national depository library and archives. Comparable as a national Egyptian public library institution with research, reference, and cultural-services provision, though with a more archival and academic focus.

Regional players

• Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre / Department of Culture and Tourism Library Network: Operates public library services across the UAE with a similar blend of physical lending, digital resources, cultural events, and government backing. Comparable in mission and operating model though geographically distant.
• Qatar National Library: National library serving Qatar with a comparable subscription-based public-library model, extensive digital resources, cultural programming, and multilingual offerings. Comparable in operating model though not a direct geographic competitor.
• King Abdulaziz Public Library: Public library in Saudi Arabia serving similar Arabic-reading audiences with memberships, cultural events, and digital services. Comparable as a national-scale Arabic-language public library system.
• Dubai Public Library (Dubai Culture): Branch-network public library serving Dubai with family memberships, cultural events, training programs, and digital catalogs. Closely comparable as a multi-branch Gulf public library with comparable services.

Others

• Bibliotheca (library software vendor): Provider of self-service lending kiosks and RFID library automation equipment used by thousands of public libraries. Directly comparable to MISR's self-service lending kiosk and Medad catalog integrations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLhpAOoIpTJSnopqM1dOUIYXeQswo_cyat
• Facebookfacebook.com/mpl.egypt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mpleg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MISR Public Library