Qatar National Library (QNL), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), organised a successful series of events and training sessions for members of the public throughout last month.
QNL’s latest programmes included an Arabic book discussion and practical training sessions about taking advantage of the online databases currently offered free to all residents of Qatar through the QNL website.
The series of programmes was designed to further knowledge and learning, core to Qatar Foundation’s mission to engage the local community.
QNL’s ‘Qatari Voices’ Arabic book discussion highlighted concerns and aspirations of the young Qatari generation illustrated in essays and stories. The book is a collection of intimate glimpses of the past and photos that show the concerns of a challenging present and aspirations for the future. Qatari Voices is the first anthology that represents 25 young creative
Qatari authors.
A series of interactive and practical training sessions also helped residents familiarise themselves with general science and health sciences online databases, including ‘ScienceDirect’, ‘Springer’, ‘OVID - Wolter Kluwer’, ‘Nature’ and ‘Scopus’.
The ‘ScienceDirect’ is a leading full-text scientific database that offers articles from journals and book chapters. The ‘SpringerLink’ online database represents a primary resource destination for all academic researchers and students interested in scientific, technical and medical eBooks and journals.
Training sessions also focused on the ‘OVID - Wolter Kluwer’ database, which provides access to a large collection of full-text peer–reviewed journals and multimedia on behavioural and social sciences, and medical sciences. Other sessions looked at the ‘Nature’ electronic resource presenting scientific journals that publishes peer-reviewed research in all fields of science and technology, as well as the ‘Scopus’ online database; the world largest abstract and citation database.
QNL regularly organises cultural and educational activities, in addition to community events and training sessions on the use of the online resources the library offers to researchers, students and residents of Qatar.
Commenting on these events and trainings, Saadi A al-Said, associate director (administration and planning), QNL, said: “Organising these educational and training programmes contribute significantly in advancing the cultural life in Qatar, and opens wide areas of innovation and excellence.
“Through these programmes, QNL aims to spread knowledge among different groups within society, in line with its mission to share information, nurture imagination, cultivate creativity, and preserve the nation’s
heritage for the future.”
Qatar National Library is currently offering free online access to a vast collection of online resources including the latest bestsellers, classical works, concerts, top academic journals and documentaries. Anyone who lives in Qatar and has a valid Qatari ID/residence permit is eligible for free library registration. To register, please visit: www.qnl.qa and to access the complete list of online resources, please visit: http://www.qnl.qa/find-answers/online-resources
