The reconstruction of the University Library in Algiers was a major project undertaken by the Algerian government in 1964. The original library, located in the heart of Algiers, was destroyed during the Algerian War of Independence. The new library, designed by the French architect Jean-Francois Zevaco, was built on the site of the old library and was intended to be a symbol of Algeria's rebirth and renewal.
The library was officially opened in 1968 and contained over 500,000 books and documents, making it one of the largest libraries in Africa at the time. The building itself was an architectural marvel, with its striking modernist design and expansive glass walls providing breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea. The library also housed a number of rare and valuable manuscripts, including several medieval Arabic texts and a copy of the Quran dating back to the 9th century.