On Wednesday, Ansar Dine gunmen came to the library, said Mr. Alhadi.

WSJ: Historic Timbuktu Texts Saved From Burning

Joseph Ellis, the author of a first-rate study of the Founding Fathers, told his students that he had fought in Vietnam when the closest he came to combat was sitting in a university library.

ECONOMIST: Celebrity professors are a good thing. Really

Mr. Rubin, 52 years old, wanted the library to "look grand, like I just came back to London after conquering, say, Kafiristan, " he jokes.

WSJ: A House to Look Smart In

This came highly recommended to me, so when I saw it was available at the library, I quickly grabbed the chance to give it a whirl.

FORBES: The Weekly E-Book Reading List