Qatar National Library (QNL), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, will hold its 3rd Heritage Library Open Day on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd of April, from 2:00pm to 7:00pm, at its Heritage Library Building at 71 Al Maha Street in Al Luqta.
Held in line with its vision of bridging with knowledge Qatar’s heritage and future, and celebrating World Heritage Day, the two-day public event, held under the theme of ‘Wagten Geda’ -(times gone by) - will celebrate Qatar’s cultural heritage, highlighting precious items housed in the Heritage Library Building. ‘Open Day 2015’ will also provide Qatar’s community the opportunity to glimpse rare historical collections and witness the unveiling of the newly acquired Arabic Cinema Collection.
Open to all members of the public, ‘Open Day 2015’ will host tours every 40 minutes, taking visitors through the unique collection comprising some of the rarest and most valuable texts and manuscripts related to Arab-Islamic civilisation, including a wide range of historical texts, manuscripts, traveller’s instruments, globes and maps.
In keeping with its commitment to support Qatar Foundation’s mission to foster a progressive society, while preserving the nation’s heritage, QNL bridges Qatar’s past and future through knowledge. By sharing valuable information and cultivating creativity, QNL continues to support Qatar Foundation in protecting the nation’s heritage for future generations. Acquired by Qatar Foundation in 2006, the Collection is now an integral part of QNL. The Collection attracts intellects and diplomats from across the world and has welcomed many high profile visitors, among them HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, who visited the Collection in February 2014.
Founded in the early 1980s as part of H.E. Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali Al-Thani’s vision to create, and make accessible, a landmark repository of Qatar and regional history in the heart of Doha, the Heritage Library is a unique contribution to Qatar’s cultural landscape. Specifically, the Collection’s Early Arabic printing section contains some of the first Arabic books printed on presses in Shweir (Lebanon), Aleppo, Mosul, Bulaq and in the Hijaz. The Collection is home to more than 2,300 manuscripts including Qur’ānic manuscripts and other texts dealing with religious topics, manuscripts on the Arabic language, medicine, pharmacology, and astronomy. The Collection also holds a large number of books written in foreign languages including writings by European travellers and explorers who visited the Arabia Gulf Region and its surrounding.
“The Heritage Library Open Day 2015 will showcase some of the most inspiring and pivotal moments in Qatar’s history. Furthermore, in line with QNL`s efforts to further enrich the existing Heritage Library, newly acquired items showcasing the progression of Arab cinema will also be unveiled this year,” said Dr Claudia Lux, Project Director of Qatar National Library. “As a member of Qatar Foundation, Qatar National Library is committed to preserving national history by acquiring and housing some of the most valuable precious items in its Heritage Library. Building on last year’s success, we are expecting increased participation and look forward to welcoming everybody.”
The QNL registration team will also be onsite during ‘Open Day 2015’ to assist members of the public with online registration that provides users free access to a wide range of valuable online learning resources available through its website: www.qnl.qa
Held in line with its vision of bridging with knowledge Qatar’s heritage and future, and celebrating World Heritage Day, the two-day public event, held under the theme of ‘Wagten Geda’ -(times gone by) - will celebrate Qatar’s cultural heritage, highlighting precious items housed in the Heritage Library Building. ‘Open Day 2015’ will also provide Qatar’s community the opportunity to glimpse rare historical collections and witness the unveiling of the newly acquired Arabic Cinema Collection.
Open to all members of the public, ‘Open Day 2015’ will host tours every 40 minutes, taking visitors through the unique collection comprising some of the rarest and most valuable texts and manuscripts related to Arab-Islamic civilisation, including a wide range of historical texts, manuscripts, traveller’s instruments, globes and maps.
In keeping with its commitment to support Qatar Foundation’s mission to foster a progressive society, while preserving the nation’s heritage, QNL bridges Qatar’s past and future through knowledge. By sharing valuable information and cultivating creativity, QNL continues to support Qatar Foundation in protecting the nation’s heritage for future generations. Acquired by Qatar Foundation in 2006, the Collection is now an integral part of QNL. The Collection attracts intellects and diplomats from across the world and has welcomed many high profile visitors, among them HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, who visited the Collection in February 2014.
Founded in the early 1980s as part of H.E. Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali Al-Thani’s vision to create, and make accessible, a landmark repository of Qatar and regional history in the heart of Doha, the Heritage Library is a unique contribution to Qatar’s cultural landscape. Specifically, the Collection’s Early Arabic printing section contains some of the first Arabic books printed on presses in Shweir (Lebanon), Aleppo, Mosul, Bulaq and in the Hijaz. The Collection is home to more than 2,300 manuscripts including Qur’ānic manuscripts and other texts dealing with religious topics, manuscripts on the Arabic language, medicine, pharmacology, and astronomy. The Collection also holds a large number of books written in foreign languages including writings by European travellers and explorers who visited the Arabia Gulf Region and its surrounding.
“The Heritage Library Open Day 2015 will showcase some of the most inspiring and pivotal moments in Qatar’s history. Furthermore, in line with QNL`s efforts to further enrich the existing Heritage Library, newly acquired items showcasing the progression of Arab cinema will also be unveiled this year,” said Dr Claudia Lux, Project Director of Qatar National Library. “As a member of Qatar Foundation, Qatar National Library is committed to preserving national history by acquiring and housing some of the most valuable precious items in its Heritage Library. Building on last year’s success, we are expecting increased participation and look forward to welcoming everybody.”
The QNL registration team will also be onsite during ‘Open Day 2015’ to assist members of the public with online registration that provides users free access to a wide range of valuable online learning resources available through its website: www.qnl.qa
