Traditionally the collection has been stored in the 9th century keep in chests and niches built for this purpose in the walls. In the late 1970s the collection was rehoused in the top floor of a modern building where it remains till today.

 

The environmental conditions in the library are far from satisfactory due to its location which is somewhat different from the other desert monasteries. The monastery is situated in the Western Desert in Wadi el Natrun, within a close proximity to nitrate lakes which produce great humidity through evaporation of water.

 

Significant fluctuations in temperature and humidity in the extreme months, from very hot and dry in summer (temp: 35 - 40C; RH 30 - 35%) to very cold and damp in winter (temp: 7 -16C; RH up to 80%) are experienced.

 

Currently, the only way to control the internal conditions is to open and close shutters, ceiling fans, and the mass of the building. The damaging effects of the above storage conditions are compounded by lack of bindings on the earliest manuscripts and their immediate exposure to the outside environment.

 

 

The principal objective is the long-term preservation of the collection through provision of a controlled and stable environment. The other objectives are to provide facilities for book conservation including education, training and access to the collection for scholars and the public.

 

A new library design has been completed that meets these objectives and complements the architectural environment of the monastery. The new library will have a working area for scholars with underground storage (the optimum location under desert conditions) for the ancient collection to house 1,000 codices, 1,500 fragmentary manuscripts and early printed books.

 

The Foundation is acting as a consultant to the monastery and assisting with fundraising.