The August 4th Explosion and Its Aftermath: Libraries in Beirut: Between Support Received and Lessons Learned

The explosion that occurred on August 4, 2020, in Beirut had a significant impact on the city's cultural and documentary fabric. Among the affected institutions, libraries suffered significant material losses that jeopardized their mission of preserving and providing access to knowledge. The event revealed profound flaws in the mechanisms for protecting documentary heritage in the face of disasters.
This article offers a comparative study of two iconic libraries in Beirut: the Bibliothèque Orientale (a private heritage institution with a university dimension) and the Assabil Association (a network of neighborhood public libraries). Through an analysis of their losses, emergency responses, and support mechanisms, the study highlights the resilience dynamics implemented in two different institutional contexts.
The data collected shows that while both libraries experienced similar damage, breakages, broken display cases, damaged furniture, and books that had fallen or been damaged, their response methods varied depending on available resources, activated solidarity networks, and institutional recognition. Cooperation with local NGOs and international organizations was often crucial for resuming operations.
Beyond crisis management, this research highlights the importance of integrating risk prevention into document management policies. Strengthening infrastructure, staff training, digitizing collections, and networking libraries appear to be strategic priorities. Lessons learned from these experiences could thus contribute to better preparedness for possible future disasters.