In fulfillment of its mission as a center of excellence for the dissemination of knowledge and for dialogue, learning and understanding between cultures and people, the BA has developed a growing interest in issues relating to access to knowledge (A2K), promotion of innovation and creativity, and intellectual property (IP). It is within this context that the first seminar in the Arab world and the region entitled “New Tools for the Dissemination of Knowledge and Promotion of Innovation and Creativity: Global Developments and Regional Challenges” was organized in 2006. The BA has also initiated several activities to spread the A2K philosophy and build local capacity of researchers, librarians and practitioners to effectively implement new and emerging A2K tools and practices. The A2K initiative aspires to raise the awareness of a wide array of public audience on the relationship between IP and development on the international level, with a special focus on A2K, for the purposes of promoting innovation and creativity and stimulating the development of an inclusive knowledge society in the Arab world.
The Beacon for Freedom of Expression Database, a gift to the Library of Alexandria from Norway, is a unique global reference catalogue containing bibliographical data on censored books and newspapers past and present, as well as data on literature on censorship and freedom of expression. The Database was presented during a one-day Conference organized by the BA on 19 May 2003. The BA also organizes a series of conferences on freedom of expression to tackle issues of freedom of speech and access to information.