After the successful launch of a wide range of projects and initiatives over the past six years, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and Qatar National Library agreed to extend the Library’s role as the regional center for supporting documentary heritage preservation in the Arab region and the Middle East.
The agreement enables the Library, which was named a regional center in 2015, to continue its leadership role in coordinating preservation and conservation activities among Arabic-speaking countries in the Middle East and North Africa. In 2021, the Library offered several high-level online regional events, addressing topics such as manuscript dating, the study of watermarks and scientific applications for preserving documentary heritage.
On the occasion, Tan Huism, Executive Director at Qatar National Library said, “We are delighted to be renewing this agreement, which will enable us to continue our crucial role in preserving the documentary heritage of Qatar and the region. Cooperation across national borders is necessary to combat the threats to these irreplaceable heritage items, and we look forward to working with institutions around the world to ensure future generations have access to knowledge from the past.”
The Library launched the Himaya project in 2020 to combat the trafficking and illegal circulation of documentary heritage in the region through knowledge exchange and cooperation between heritage institutions and government agencies.
Stephane Ipert, Director of Distinctive Collections at Qatar National Library, further added, “We are honoured to continue our fight against the illicit trafficking of heritage material and look forward to working as the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)’s Regional Preservation and Conservation Centre for the Arab region. We have launched several projects since 2015 and plan to invest more efforts to protect our heritage in the coming years. In addition, we also have plans to support the training and development requirements of future experts with skills needed to conserve and preserve the rich cultural heritage of Qatar and the wider Arab region for generations to come.”
The Library will continue its role in monitoring disasters and threats to the region’s documentary heritage by working with relevant institutions to respond quickly and provide possible support.
The IFLA Preservation and Conservation Center’s network supports libraries around the world to safeguard documentary, sound, and audio-visual heritage, in its diverse forms and formats, and promotes international cooperation in support of this cause.
