Qatar National Library (QNL) has released the 2024 Annual Report of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions Middle East and North Africa (IFLA) Regional Office. The report outlines a landmark year of growth, collaboration and impact in advancing library services, professional development, and knowledge exchange across the MENA region.
Qatar National Library was officially appointed as host of the IFLA MENA Regional Office during the 2023 IFLA World Library and Information Congress. The official signing ceremony, held in December 2024 at QNL, featured a series of capacity-building workshops, reinforcing the Library’s role in advancing regional and global cooperation
The Annual Report highlights numerous other milestones during the Office’s inaugural year. These include the launch of the Librarians for Libraries training program, which attracted 1,259 registrants from 31 countries. The program featured 16 specialized workshops delivered by expert trainers from countries including Oman, Syria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Palestine, and Qatar. The sessions fostered knowledge exchange and supported professional growth across the region.
Another notable achievement is QNL’s leadership in updating Qatar’s data for the IFLA Library Map of the World, a global initiative that visualizes the presence and impact of libraries worldwide. Since September 2024, QNL has coordinated a national effort involving 400 libraries, achieving a response rate of 80.7% with participation from government and private school libraries, academic institutions as well as special and public libraries.
The report also highlights the Library’s impactful capacity-building initiatives such as the Emerging Librarians Program, a training hosted at QNL for students from Sultan Qaboos University in Oman. The program, blending theoretical instruction with practical application, provided participants with exposure to key departments, including Heritage, Digitization, and Conservation, as well as curated cultural site visits. The initiative gained international recognition, with the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals inviting QNL to share its experience in an article featured by the institute’s ILIG Focus publication.
Tan Huism, Executive Director of Qatar National Library, said these initiatives reflect the growing role of libraries in supporting communities in a multitude of ways, whether life-long learning, access to knowledge and creative and cultural events and community building.
“As host of the IFLA MENA Regional Office, QNL remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting regional cooperation to support knowledge exchange, cultural preservation, and innovation across the region.”
Eiman S. AlShamari, the Acting Manager of the National Collection at Qatar National Library and the Manager of the IFLA Middle East and North Africa Regional Office, said: “This year has demonstrated the potential of coordinated regional efforts in fostering a vibrant community of librarians that share the same values.”
Building on last year’s success, QNL plans to expand its training offerings, launch new collaborative initiatives across the MENA region, and establish regular strategic dialogue with the IFLA to align global priorities with regional needs to support the development of library services across the Arab world.
Qatar National Library continues to pursue its role as a regional hub for innovation, capacity-building, and knowledge-sharing, empowering library professionals and institutions to further advance their mission.
