Qatar National Library opened its doors to the public with limited services in July, but for the safety of our patrons during at this current time, we continue to run more events than ever online on a wide range of stimulating subjects to stir the senses.
On 10 August, join us to learn about accessible apps for parents to support children with autism. These provide visual cues to aid communication and helping children learn numbers, colors, shapes and sizes. These apps can help kids to learn to better identify objects and practice social exchanges.
Sign up on 11 August to our online introduction to Al-Nagda, one of the oldest Gulf heritage crafts. Learn about the art of embroidering local fabrics and costumes with silver and golden wires to add a smooth artistic and aesthetic touch.
The workshop explains the concept of Al-Nagda and its history and important role in Gulf culture. It will show the tools and fabrics that were used in sewing it in the past, along with a presentation of drawings and types of Al-Nagda designs.
The workshop highlights how Al-Nagda is used in adding artistic touches to Al-Malfaa (women's headcovers) and Al-Bokhnoq (a sort of scarf that covers head, neck and shoulders, mostly used by young women). The workshop will also answer questions about how the use of Al-Nagda has evolved recently and how this traditional craft has been affected by modernity.
On 12 August, the Library will run a lecture entitled Preventive Measures to Preserve Arabic Manuscripts: Reality and Prospects, held in collaboration with the National Laboratory for Manuscript and Parchment Preservation and Restoration in Tunisia.
The webinar includes three lectures by experts from the National Institute of Heritage in Tunisia, and is part of a series of events organized by the IFLA Regional Center for Preservation and Conservation (PAC) at the Library. Our goal is to create a professional network of specialists and exchange knowledge and successful experiences toward the preservation of documentary heritage throughout the Arab region.
Join us on 13 August to learn how the current pandemic has been a catalyst for change in library services around the world. We’ll be joined by librarians from Qatar, the Arab region, Europe, Southeast Asia and the US as they share their experience with providing services during the pandemic, as well their perspectives on the future of library services.
Panelists include Dr. Milena Dobreva from UCL-Qatar, Randa Chidiac from Holy Spirit University of Kaslik in Lebanon and Alicia Yeo from Singapore National Library.
On 15 August you can register for our workshop on the impact of Covid-19 on Sustainable Development Goals, the blueprint by the UN which aims to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Presented by SDGeneration Network and Greener Future, the webinar will introduce the goals and how we can achieve them, as well as discussing the impact that Covid-19 has had. We'll also discuss how our daily habits can help us excel in achieving these goals.
The Library will run a lecture on 18 August looking at the textual structure of Arabic manuscript, led by Mahmoud Zaki, the Library's Manuscript Librarian. This is the third of a series of lectures and talks providing readings of rare historical works from our Heritage Library's collection of manuscripts. The series is a great opportunity to explore the rich collection and its masterworks, along with the Heritage Library's digital and virtual services.
For more information on all of the events taking place in August, keep an eye on our website and our social media channels for the latest information.
