Stepping into the Rare Books and Special Collections Library feels like traveling back in time — or discovering a secret treasure trove. From centuries-old manuscripts to hidden gems of Egyptian history, the library is home to a remarkable collection exceeding 150,000 items, in addition to expansive archives that stretch across 2 kilometers of documented history.
But how much do you really know about AUC’s Rare Books and Special Collections Library? Tucked away on the third floor of the Main Library, the archives open up a world of research and discovery. Eman Morgan, assistant director of special projects, electronic media and professional development at the Rare Books and Special Collections Library, debunks common myths and highlights how students can engage with the archives beyond the classroom.
Fact: The collection holds plenty of primary sources, not just items that require strict security. On the third floor, with the help of a specialized librarian, students can interact directly with photographs, maps, correspondence and historical magazines. Many items are indexed and digitized, searchable both online and in person. Research consultants are available, and students can use digitization services — including professional and 3D cameras — for presentations and exhibitions.
Fact: Only rare materials from the 16th to the 19th century are kept in climate-controlled areas, which aren’t accessible to students. Most of the archives are comfortable to study in, with cozy reading spots, study rooms and large glass windows that fill the space with sunlight.
Fact: Student work is showcased beyond the classroom. The library features exhibitions for class and thesis projects and provides curation support so students can display their work year-round, benefiting peers and guiding future assignments.
Fact: The library houses many large items: architectural drawings, historical maps and 19th-century atlases. However, these materials are being digitized and cataloged, which makes them accessible online
to everyone.
Fact: The collection is extensive, featuring oral histories of artists transcribed and translated in the digital library. Their oral testimonies alongside interviews with family members have revealed rich insights into 20th-century Egyptian artists and cinematographers.
Graduating from AUC with a degree in psychology and minors in business and theatre, Ibrahim has launched head first into a multifaceted career, combining her love for helping others with the skills she’s gained throughout her education.
At AUC, Ibrahim got to try out a wide range of passions through the freedom of the liberal arts education. After graduating, she continued to take this love for multifaceted fields into her professional, academic, and personal life. She went on to get her Master of Education and Master of Arts in counseling psychology from Columbia’s Teachers College in New York City. While there, she started working as the programs and research coordinator for the Principles for Responsible Management Education team, a United Nations Global Compact initiative.
“It was the perfect position for me, as it focused on a little bit of business and also on psychology,” she explained. “We analyzed how we could bring a positive psychology lens into higher management education. Essentially, we were finding ways to make business schools more fun.”
Her work as a researcher for the United Nations took her around the world, from working across the United States to attending conferences across the U.S., Denmark and South Africa. After two years aiding the team, Ibrahim left her official position to pursue her true passion: psychology, working as an associate psychotherapist for the Soho Center for Mental Health Counseling.
“I really enjoy what I do now, and I still have so much room to make an impact,” Ibrahim assured. “I really want to primarily focus on working with Middle Eastern and Arab communities because I speak Arabic fluently and can provide that care to them with that cultural sensitivity. Coming here and being away from Egypt, I want to be next to my community. I like talking to people and helping them. It's what I feel like I'm good at, and it's what I try to do.”
Ibrahim is still actively engaged in research, however, as she’s helping to contribute to a book on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a publication date set for 2028.
Even with her blossoming life in New York, Ibrahim has not forgotten where she came from. It’s been almost a decade since Ibrahim started at AUC, but her college experience still has a profound effect. “Going to AUC was honestly a no brainer for me,” Ibrahim explained. “It gave me the courage to go after what I want and set me up on this path toward success.”
Her journey at AUC was bisected by COVID-19, but despite the confines of the pandemic, Ibrahim still took advantage of every opportunity available. She started off on the basketball team and eventually found her passion for theatre. Living on campus, she was able to become fully immersed in the campus community, from friends to extracurriculars to a wide range of classes.
“Coming in, I wasn't so sure about what I wanted to do,” Ibrahim explained. “So that's what I really liked about AUC; I was able to take such a diverse array of classes at a liberal arts school, like philosophy, English, anthropology, sociology; in addition to exploring psychology, business, and theatre classes and everything in between.”
“In all of this, I feel like AUC gave me a very well-rounded foundation,” she expressed. “It helped me a lot in my job: I was able to function in an area that was more business-oriented, but in a psychology-oriented way. I was also able to bring my theatre skills, my fun and my play into it. I could put on all my hats at the same time and use all my skills. So I really am grateful to AUC for all the opportunities it gave me and helped me develop this wonderful, balanced life.”
From AUC to Columbia to the United Nations, Zein Ibrahim ’22 is taking the post-grad world by storm.
