Aitit, Babliye, Saida, the libraries in the south—are all closed. When they can reopen—when the fighting is stopped and it is safe to do so—we will be here to provide them with whatever they need, to do what we can.

In the rest of the country, however, the libraries are not only open, they are busy! The libraries in the mountains, which are usually pretty active during the summer months, are today taking care of the needs of a very different group of people than their regular summer visitors.

The Mtein Library, which is swarming with people, is the perfect example as is the library in Baakline that is welcoming 100-150 kids a day. The children among the refugee population require special attention and have different needs. In some cases, there are young people volunteering at these libraries and helping with the activities that are being organized for the refugee children : children helping children.

In Zahlé, Chanay, Khreybet Chouf, Baskinta and Aley, libraries are working with municipalities to distribute foods. They have not, however, lost track of their primary responsibility—their mission—which is to give everyone an opportunity to discover the world of books: to read, to dream, to explore. We hope, like Borges,* that a book will offer some happiness, despite the circumstances.

*quoted by Alberto Manguel, Chez Borges, Actes Sud, 2003.