Beirut Municipal Public Libraries managed by Assabil Association are found in three different branches around Beirut, but my favorite is nestled in Monnot, next to the Museum of Lebanese Prehistory.

As a school librarian myself, I can’t stress enough the importance of libraries in neighborhoods, because they mirror the society and its needs. Assabil Library is always active with events, whether virtual or real-life ones.

The Monnot branch is full of youth, as it is close to a university, making its collection variable and rich with French, English, and Arabic books on several topics. They even have a section dedicated to children, and they usually host storytellings every Friday for kids to enjoy (FOR FREE!).

I always encourage locals to discover the public spaces they can benefit from, so here I am sharing this public space in an article because we do need them more than ever!