Qatar’s history and cultural traditions will take center stage at Qatar National Library throughout December, as visitors can take part in a series of lectures, exhibitions and other activities in celebration of Qatar National Day.
On 2 December, the Library, in cooperation with the Qatari Society of Al Gannas, will host ‘Falcons and Falconry,’ a lecture highlighting an important aspect of Qatari culture. This will be followed the next day by a workshop and hunting demonstration showing the relationship between falcons and their trainers. Visitors will also have the opportunity to take photos with trained falcons.
Children can learn about Qatar’s past and present through a storytelling session and quiz on 10 and 12 December, respectively, and participants can paint the Qatari flag on traditional incense burners. On 13 December, children are invited to learn about the history of pearling in the Gulf region in ‘A Pearl Journey.’
‘Qatar National Day is a time for everyone in the country, and children in particular, to mark the achievements of their forefathers and learn about Qatar’s rich history,’ said Dr. Sohair Wastawy, Executive Director of Qatar National Library. ‘Our events this month at the Library provide an opportunity for the people of Qatar to honor the past, embrace the future and celebrate Qatar’s cultural heritage.’
On 11 December, the Library will host an event entitled, ‘The Pride of Qatar,’ in which a group of Qataris will share their experiences and discuss how they have excelled in their respective fields and positively influenced society. On 15 December, distinguished poets, including Mohamad Yasin, Zainab Almahmood, Nasser Al-Wobair and Hamad Al-Braidi, will recite verses in the two most common traditions, Faseeh and Nabaţi, at ‘For the Love of Qatar,’ which will be moderated by Saoud Al-Maadeed.
The ‘Qatar Through Private Archives’ exhibition, which runs from 16 December to 31 January 2019, will highlight the nation’s past with displays of historical collections of several Qatari families. Through previously unseen photos, artifacts and documents, the exhibition will illustrate the role that community members play in building the local society’s identity and preserving its history and heritage.
A storytelling activity for girls will take place on 17 December, inspiring attendees by raising awareness of Qatar’s rich culture and giving them an opportunity to design Qatari ornaments. Other events at the Library in December include ‘Decoupage on Dallah’ on 2 December, a workshop where women can create intricate patterns on teapots using the decoupage technique. Families are invited to ‘Theater Plays for Children’ on 8 December, which will include a series of puppet shows and shadow theater performances.
The crucial role translation plays in developing understanding between cultures is the topic of a panel discussion on 6 December. Entitled ‘Translation: A Message of Peace, a Bridge of Communication,’ the panel will include instructors and translators from Qatar University and the Al Jazeera Center for Studies. The event is held in cooperation with the Steering Committee of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding.
On 2 December, families are invited to take part in placing the last brick of the world’s longest LEGO® bridge. The public can participate in building this bridge from 4:00 - 8:00 PM every day from 28 November to 1 December. The bridge, built using more than 260,000 LEGO® bricks, is part the fifth edition of 2018 Qatar British Festival, organized in collaboration with the British Council and the British Embassy in Qatar.
On 10 December, Professor James Barr from King’s College London will deliver a lecture on the Anglo-American rivalry in the Middle East. The Library’s ‘Wikithon’ will take place on 15 December, where participants can learn how to edit, improve and enrich Wikipedia articles. The event focuses on editing and adding Arabic and English content about Qatar’s history, culture and environment to the online encyclopedia.
The Library will participate in the Doha International Book Fair with a series of events from 1 – 7 December at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. Staff members will deliver talks on ‘How to Read Stories to our Children’ and ‘Our Children and Books’ on 1 December, ‘Book Clubs at the Library’ on 4 December, ‘Real and Fake News’ on 5 December, and ‘Searching Through the Library’s Resources’ on 7 December.
Visitors are welcome to view the Library’s continuing exhibitions, including ‘Syria Under the French Mandate (1918 – 1946)’; ‘The World Through Picture Books’; ‘Data Visualization Digital Exhibition: Information is Beautiful’; and the Heritage Library’s permanent exhibition.
