By Joseph Varghese
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Residents of Qatar will have the opportunity to get membership of Qatar National Library (QNL) for free during its Arab and Islamic Heritage Collection Open Day on Thursday. Residents also can apply online for membership.
The Open Day will be held on at QNL’s temporary Arabic and Islamic Heritage Collection Building located at 71 Al- Maha Street at Al Luqta from 1 to 5 pm.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr Claudia Lux, QNL’s project director, said: “Any resident can come with the Qatar resident permit and get the membership of the new library. This will be a great opportunity for the residents to get free membership to enjoy large number of facilities of the upcoming library which will be a truly remarkable one.”
Dr Joachim Gierlichs, QNL’s associate director for Special Collections and Archives, and Saddi al-Said, QNL’s associate director for Administration and Planning, also participated in the press conference.
Dr Gierlichs said that the library might be opened by the end of 2015 or early 2016.
Dr Lux said that this year’s Open Day will specially recognise the archaeological site of Zubarah which Unesco last year declared as Qatar’s first addition to the World Heritage list. “The event will mark the International Day for Monuments and Sites which has been established to celebrate the diversity of heritage throughout the world,” she added.
“QNL’s Arab and Islamic Heritage Collection Open Day will highlight the significant role of Al Zubarah in Qatar’s history. It will also allow visitors to explore the library’s collection of maps, books and historic globes that highlight Qatar’s rich heritage,” she added.
The official remarked that the Arab and Islamic heritage will be the heart of the Qatar National Library when it becomes operational. “It is among the most important aspects of Qatar’s cultural landscape expressing the depth and richness of Arabic and Islamic civilisation. This is also a great opportunity to introduce this valuable trove of heritage and cultural items to families, students, researchers and foreign and cultural dignitaries in Qatar,” she explained.
Dr Lux remarked that QNL will have different areas that will cater to various sections of the community. “Within the library there will be a metropolitan public library, national library, university and research library and children’s library. It will have heritage collection, teen collection, children’s collection and many more.”
QNL, an initiative of Qatar Foundation, was launched by QF chairperson HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser in 2012 with the mission of spreading knowledge, nurturing imagination and preserving the nation’s heritage for the future.The 45, 0000sq m state-of-the-art-building is designed to encourage library visitors to explore the progression from the past to the present.
