From a modest building in the heart of Atbara, just north of the main market—where the commercial and cultural life of this working-class city flourishes—a sign emerges from the single, first floor: Paradise Library. Beneath it, in smaller print, reads: A library… a space for dreams.
Dalia Salah Mirghani, a young woman with a lifelong passion for reading, always found joy and invaluable insights about the world and her homeland, Sudan, within the pages of books. After earning a degree in Banking and Finance from Sudan University of Science and Technology and returning to her hometown of Ad-Damar, her first goal was to establish a library. This would be her labour of love, providing reading enthusiasts in Ad-Damar with easy access to books via an order-and-delivery system. Upon her return, she discovered that the city no longer had any bookshops. Many had closed down, including the once-renowned Abu Talib Cultural Bookshop, whose founder had passed away, as well as the national library, which had also ceased operations.
Dalia reflected on the name for her library: “The name Firdaws (Paradise) came to mind because, when a reader immerses themselves in the world of a book, particularly in literary works, they genuinely feel as if they are in a paradise filled with delightful, diverse fruits. In the end, I chose Paradise.”
In 2020, she began operating online, offering titles from her personal collection. After designing a custom logo for the library and announcing its launch on her personal page and in Ad-Damar city Facebook groups, she gained considerable interest and followers from both genders and across different age groups and social backgrounds. As the library’s membership grew, she organised a reading club. Members proposed different book titles, which would then be voted on to select a weekly read, followed by group discussions. Each participant presented a summary and their perspective on the chosen book.
The name Firdaws (Paradise) came to mind because, when a reader immerses themselves in the world of a book, particularly in literary works, they genuinely feel as if they are in a paradise filled with delightful, diverse fruits. In the end, I chose Paradise
In 2020, she began operating online, offering titles from her personal collection. After designing a custom logo for the library and announcing its launch on her personal page and in Ad-Damar city Facebook groups, she gained considerable interest and followers from both genders and across different age groups and social backgrounds. As the library’s membership grew, she organised a reading club. Members proposed different book titles, which would then be voted on to select a weekly read, followed by group discussions. Each participant presented a summary and their perspective on the chosen book.
The library’s services continued unaffected by the outbreak of war in mid-April 2023. In fact, it attracted even more interest, especially from people fleeing the war in Khartoum to nearby cities such as Ad-Damar and Atbara, both situated along the Nile. Dalia also participated in displaying books at various bazaars held intermittently at venues like the Infinity Hall in both cities.
In 2021, Paradise Library hosted a cultural event at Samandal Café in Ad-Damar, which included a book fair, cultural evenings, and poetry readings. The event also highlighted several young writers from the region. During the same event, a workshop was held to discuss the novel Rambo the Abyssinian by Eritrean author Haji Jaber. Dalia recalled, “As a result of this event, I was interviewed by the Nile State Satellite Channel about the library and its activities—a much-needed recognition of cultural work in a region that suffers from a lack of such initiatives.”
Dalia then embarked on creating a physical space for the library: “I chose Atbara for the library because it has a higher population density than Ad-Damar. I found this location on As-Silk Street, thanks to a friend, and I liked it because it’s centrally located and easily accessible. I completed the necessary formalities and obtained approval from the Literary and Artistic Works Department of the Ministry of Culture and Media, as well as from security authorities—since any public activity after the war requires their approval. Thankfully, I faced no major difficulties in this regard.”
Atbara, a workers’ city, long known as a railway hub, has a rich history of national movements against colonialism. The city has produced numerous well-known figures—activists, writers, poets, and intellectuals from across the political spectrum. The city’s awareness of the importance of learning and knowledge, including libraries, has always been profound. Publications from Cairo and Beirut would reach Atbara’s libraries shortly after their release. The oldest library in Atbara, the Dabora Cultural Library, was founded by the legendary Awadallah Mahmoud Mohammed Dabora (the Sheikh of Sudanese Journalists) in 1928 and remains active to this day.
On December 9, 2023, in the bustling As-Silk Street, frequented by students, employees, workers, and merchants, Paradise Library opened its doors.
Dalia allocated one room for book sales and another for reading, where simple refreshments are provided. She is currently working on offering internet services. The library also offers a book rental service with a monthly subscription fee of 10,000 Sudanese pounds, with certain conditions to protect the books from damage. Subscribers can borrow as many books as they wish or pay a daily fee to read in the hall for a set number of hours. Dalia noted that the most popular books among readers are Arabic and translated novels, self-help and personal development books, philosophy, and religious literature.
Regarding her book sources, Dalia told Atar: “I import books from Egypt, but I face challenges with customs, and I hope books will eventually be exempt from or have reduced customs fees, as they promote knowledge and scholarship. There are also significant delays in the arrival of book shipments from Cairo to Atbara. I’ve also collaborated with Sudanese publishers, like Dar Al-Musawarat and Ad-Dar Al-Bayda Library in Omdurman, and I’ve received great support from their owners.” She added, “No official body has offered me any support or even visited to show encouragement.”
Dalia acknowledged that working in this field may not bring substantial financial returns, but for her, the most important thing is contributing to the knowledge society and leaving a cultural mark in Atbara, even amid the war. “And to fulfil my passion, more than anything else.”
She confidently believes that books can compete in any era, even with the proliferation of modern media like mobile phones and television. Her plan is to work with headteachers of local primary schools to establish small school libraries and run reading workshops for children in public and private schools and kindergartens, nurturing a new generation of avid readers.
Dalia strides into the future filled with hope and determination: “My five-year plan is for Paradise Library to house various sections catering to university students’ academic needs, and to become the nucleus of the first publishing house in the Nile State, expanding the space for dreams ever wider.”
