QNL welcomes experts at IFLA MENA regional division committee meeting
Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar National Library (QNL) welcomed 18 experts from across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in a bid to strengthen the role of libraries in preserving cultural heritage, empowering communities and embracing digital transformation across the region.
The event held at QNL, which was chosen in August 2023 as the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) MENA Regional Office, marked the regional division committee's second in-person meeting since its establishment following an inaugural session in November 2023.
The latest milestone reflects IFLA's growing focus on localized collaboration and regional engagement to address global challenges, leveraging regionally driven solutions.
The committee brought together representatives from 18 countries for strategic discussions around setting future regional priorities, fostering cross-border collaboration, and advancing key initiatives such as QNL and IFLA's Libraries Lead Forum and the development of sustainable projects.
Qatar National Library contributed to the committee's work through the participation of Abeer Al Kuwari, director of National Collection and Special Initiatives, who serves as a mentor within the committee, and Eiman Alshamari, manager of the IFLA MENA Regional Office, who serves as an observer.
'The IFLA meeting underscores our shared vision to position libraries as cultural hubs that empower our communities today and preserve our heritage for future generations,' said Al Kuwari.
The latest meeting reflects QNL's commitment to supporting IFLA in its mission to bolster the capacity of libraries across the Arab world and to foster regional collaboration.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar National Library to host diverse lineup of events in June
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar National Library (QNL) is welcoming the summer with a dynamic schedule of public events this June, offering opportunities for historical exploration, creative expression and career development. Opening the month on June 1, the Library will host a two-day workshop titled 'Consulting British Historical Sources on Arab Gulf History: Focus on Post-Independence Records, 1968–1994'. Led by historian Anita Burdett, the session will provide participants with practical guidance on accessing, organizing and preserving historical collections. The workshop will emphasize oral history best practices through interactive exercises and case studies, offering valuable insights for researchers and heritage professionals For younger audiences, the Library is holding its popular Storytime for Toddlers and Storytime for Children series. On June 1 and 29, children aged 4 years and younger will have the opportunity to read, play and have fun with a variety of activities. Meanwhile, children aged seven to 14 can look forward to storytelling sessions on June 2, 16 and 30, all designed to foster a love of reading. All events at Qatar National Library are free, but prior registration is encouraged. For full details and to register, visit or download the Library's app via the App Store or Google Play.
Qatar Tribune
21-05-2025
- Qatar Tribune
QNL unveils IFLA regional office annual report 2024
QNA Doha 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. QNL 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 programme, which attracted 1,259 registrants from 31 countries. The programme featured 16 specialised 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 percent 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 Programme, a training hosted at QNL for students from Sultan Qaboos University in Oman. The programme, 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 QNL, 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 AlShamari, acting manager of the national collection at QNL 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 Tribune
19-05-2025
- Qatar Tribune
QNL invites scholars to explore Qatar's heritage
Tribune News Network Doha Building on the success of its inaugural edition, Qatar National Library (QNL) has unveiled the second round of its research fellowship programme, inviting scholars based in Qatar to explore the nation's rich history through the library's exceptional heritage collections. The six-month residential fellowship, beginning in September 2025, provides selected fellows with a monthly stipend, full access to QNL's resources and dedicated support to conduct original research. Open to Qatari citizens and expatriate residents living in Doha, the programme welcomes proposals across a wide range of topics—from social and economic developments to architectural traditions and natural resource management—from the 18th century through to the 1980s. Applications are open until June 17, 2025, and the selected fellows will be announced by July 15. 'The QNL Fellowship is more than a research opportunity — it's an invitation to rediscover Qatar's past and offer new perspectives on our collective memory,' said Abeer Al Kuwari, director of National Collection and Special Initiatives at Qatar National Library. 'We're proud to support researchers in uncovering stories that shape our national identity and ensuring these narratives endure for future generations.' Fellows are expected to dedicate 20 to 25 hours per week to their research, submit a final paper and participate in presentations and discussions throughout the fellowship period. The inaugural fellowship, launched in October 2024, underscored the programme's potential to foster meaningful scholarship and original research. The first round awarded three fellows whose diverse academic and specialized backgrounds brought fresh perspectives to the study of Qatar's history, culture and environment. Their projects drew extensively on QNL's collections and digital resources, with each fellow crediting the library's support and mentorship as instrumental to their work and discoveries. 'Qatar National Library provided me with access to a wide range of resources related to Qatari architecture, with the architectural photo archive from the Heritage Library being one of the most prominent and valuable,' said Ghalia Al Muhanadi, a fellow of the Qatar National Library Fellowship Programme. 'My research focused on the sensory and spatial experience of traditional Qatari architecture, including intangible elements such as light, shadow and texture, which influence how people interact with space.'
