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Qatar National Library (QNL), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, is offering members of the public a chance to tour its Arab and Islamic Heritage Collection during an Open Day on April 17. |
This follows the success of last year’s event that saw hundreds of residents marvelling at QNL’s most prized and historic artefacts.
This year’s Open Day will specially recognise the archaeological site Al Zubarah, which Unesco declared as Qatar’s first entry on the World Heritage list last summer.
The event will mark the International Day for Monuments and Sites, which has been established to celebrate the diversity of heritage throughout the world.
QNL’s project director Dr Claudia Lux said, “QNL’s Arab and Islamic Heritage Collection Open Day will highlight the significant role of Al Zubarah in Qatar’s history, enabling visitors to explore the library’s collection of maps, books and historic globes that highlight Qatar’s rich heritage.
Visitors will also be able to hear detailed explanations about the precious collection by QNL’s very own Heritage Collection expert curators.”
The Arab and Islamic Heritage Collection is a national resource that includes writings by travellers and explorers who visited the Arabian Gulf region over the centuries, Arab manuscripts, historical maps and globes, as well as scientific instruments and early photography.
Founded in 1979 by Sheikh Hassan bin Mohamed al-Thani, the Arab and Islamic Heritage Collection is an unparalleled contribution of historical sources about Qatar and the region.
Dr Joachim Gierlichs, QNL’s associate director for Special Collections, said: “Among the 600 historical maps preserved by QNL is one of Ptolemy’s map printed in Rome in 1478, which is the oldest map in the collection showing the name of Qatar, referred to in Latin as ‘Catara’.”
QNL’s collection features up to 2,400 precious manuscripts, among them Mushafs (Holy Qur’an) and Arabic literature, with a primary focus on sciences such as geography, astronomy, mathematics and others.
This is complemented by artefacts from the early European reception (early prints in Latin from the 15th-17th century), such as the famous Qanon of Avicenna (Ibn Sina).
International Day for Monuments and Sites was designated by the General Assembly of Unesco in 1983 following a proposal by the International Council on Monuments and Sites.
The Open Day takes place at QNL’s temporary Arab and Islamic Heritage Collection between 1pm and 5pm on April 17.
Guided tours for the public will take place at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm.
For more details about QNL, visit www.qnl.qa
