Qatar National Library is readying to host ‘Libraries Lead,’ the first forum that brings together library professionals to foster initiatives to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 Agenda.
The two-day forum provides a platform for libraries and institutions to share their efforts to advocate for any of the UN SDGs with dicussions focusing on library programs, services, collaborations, and initiatives that drive progress for SDGs.
H.E. Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, State Minister and President of Qatar National Library, will address the forum, which kicks off on May 23. The forum aims to empower participants to make informed economic, social and environmental decisions and will be preceded by a workshop on May 22 to facilitate community dialogue.
The workshop will explore the implementation of community-library inter-action (CLIA) at the local level, enabling any library to strengthen its role as a community anchor that contributes to social transformation.
The workshop will help professionals realign their thinking from being service providers and problem solvers to community connectors with the capacity to support shared goals and actions through the strengthening of community identity.
Participants will work on identifying the challenges and opportunities of CLIA in practice and work on devising plans to measure the impact of their work.
Commenting on the first edition of the forum, Abeer Al-Kuwari, Director of Research and Learning Services at Qatar National Library, expressed her firm conviction in the integral role that libraries play in society.
“Libraries have a duty and responsibility to play an active role in society’s development and in building a prosperous future. Based on this conviction, Qatar National Library was keen to organize the ‘Libraries Lead’ forum to educate experts and librarians in the Arab world on the role that libraries play as an influential force in achieving the United Nations Sustainable development Goals by disseminating information and providing learning opportunities for the community,” Al-Kuwari said.
"The only limit to the role that libraries can play in contributing to UN goals is imagination and innovation. In fact, libraries deliver a wealth of information to the public in various fields, while organizing events and training activities to equip community members with new skills that directly contribute to the UN sustainable development goals. For instance, libraries support the fight against poverty through their contribution to sustainable economic growth and the creation of decent job opportunities by providing sources of learning, information and training sessions that enable community members to improve their lives and acquire new skills that qualify them for new job opportunities and contribute to their business success.”
The first day of the forum features several sessions, including the role of “IFLA MENA and Its Current Efforts in Supporting the UN’s SDGs 2030 Agenda”, the ‘Libraries’ Roles and Initiatives Post-Pandemic in Advancing Digital Library Skills” and “Engaging Stakeholders: Getting the Message Out to Decision Makers and Influencers.”
Additional sessions will be held on the second day of the forum to discuss several topics, including “Qatar’s Initiatives and Leadership Towards Sustainability” and “Safeguarding Curiosity, Creativity and Community in Crisis Situations: Libraries as Catalysts for Community Engagement in Crisis.”
The organization of the forum falls in line with QNL’s mission to positively influence society by creating an exceptional and sustainable ecosystem for learning and discovery where information is provided in an advanced technological and cultural context, along with new initiative, programs and services.
