Qatar National Library (QNL) recently received a donation of a wide range of books from the Embassy of Japan in Qatar. The donation was presented at a special ceremony on the 9th of October, 2016 at the Education City.
The contribution to QNL, part of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), included several books about the Japanese culture in Arabic, English and Japanese languages. These books will give QNL members a wide understanding of the Japanese culture as they cover an array of cultural facets such as, literature, photography, cuisine, comics, art, and children books.
Commenting on the donation, His Excellency Mr. Shingo Tsuda, the Ambassador of the Embassy of Japan, said: “It is our great pleasure, for the first time, to donate 83 Japanese books to Qatar National Library. These books include Japanese literature translated in Arabic and a collection of Japanese books on traditional and modern Japanese culture, nature, history, and also manga. We hope these books will act as a reference on Japan for the students, researchers and communities in Qatar and will strengthen the bilateral relationship between our two countries.
“We firmly believe that Qatar National Library will be a great library that will act as a gateway for all the people in Qatar to the wonders of discovery and learning. In line with Qatar National Vision 2030, we wish this donation will contribute to the country's endeavors to enrich people's lives with knowledge and learning to produce a knowledgeable nation in the future.” H.E. added.
In response, Dr. Claudia Lux, Project Director of Qatar National Library, said: “Receiving these books is a great opportunity for QNL to strengthen its growing collection with diverse resources about countries with rich culture, such as Japan. There is a great deal of respect and fondness for the Japanese culture in the Qatari community and for this reason we are very grateful for the donation, which will undoubtedly meet the demands of an established and large following. The books gifted to us are of special value also because a selection are translated to Arabic, which makes them accessible to a very important audience.”
“Japan has a rich history spanning thousands of years. It is important for us in QNL to have the embassy’s expert input on what books would be most constructive to the readers in Qatar to deepen the community’s understanding of the nation of Japan.” She added.
QNL is committed to QF’s vision of unlocking human potential by providing resources to students, researchers, and the wider community of Qatar, as well as preserving the nation’s history for future generations through its prized Heritage Collection and international partnerships.
