Big congratulations are in order to the Municipality of Jdeideh – Bauchrieh – Al Sed, and especially to its leader, Mayor Antoine Gebara for the recent inauguration of the municipal public library. Unlike most municipal libraries which are usually housed inside municipal buildings, this library is situated in the St. Antonios municipal public garden, within a residential district surrounded by schools.

Gebara is not only a four-time elected mayor. What many do not know is that he is a poet with several published poems, and a musical composer of tunes performed by many artists like Pascale Sakr Sami Clark and Carole Aoun Chakhtoura, to name a few. With a passion for literature and culture, it is no wonder that Gebara’s vision was to establish a public library easily accessible to residents, thus encouraging children and adults to read and educate themselves on various topics to enrich their literary palettes.

The beauty of this library is its location. Situated inside the municipal public garden, and surrounded by flowers, sculptures, and natural beauty, one cannot but disconnect and tune out the nearby car horns and traffic chaos emanating from neighboring streets. A serene setting with sounds of running water, this charming garden is a prime location for a reader to enjoy all that nature has to offer and completely disconnect for some time.

A Literary Haven

On the inside, upon entering the library, I was greeted by friendly and warm staff members

whose job is to assist visitors and point them in the right direction. Wall to wall shelves carry thousands of books to appeal to different readers and various age groups. A large conference room, a computer room with fourteen work stations and free Wi-Fi allow visitors the comfort of conducting their research with minimal distraction. The cleanliness and spaciousness of the

location is inviting enough for anyone seeking some solitude and looking to stimulate their

literary curiosity.

This literary haven transported me to a different world. All I wanted to do was pick out a book, sit on a garden bench, and let my mind wander off the written words in front of me.

The mesmerizing experience made me forget that I was in one of the busiest cities in Lebanon. It is this contrast and the fusion of several factors together that makes the garden and library so charming and appealing.

If you are looking for an experience that truly stimulates the mind and the soul, I encourage you to visit the library and bask in the beauty of its garden. Soon, visitors will be able to enjoy

several activities and workshops which will be held in the library, so make sure you stay tuned for updates in the coming months.