Dr Lux, al-Muhannadi, Prof McLuskie and Keating at the launch ceremony. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil
By Joseph Varghese/Staff Reporter
Qatar Foundation (QF), Qatar National Library (QNL) and British Library have launched the Qatar Digital Library, which provides access to over half a million pages of archives and manuscripts about the history of Qatar, the Gulf region and beyond.
The project was launched by QF president Saad al-Muhannadi in the presence of QNL project director Dr Claudia Lux, British Library board member Prof Kate McLuskie and British Library chief executive Roly Keating at the Student Centre of Hamad Bin Khalifa University yesterday.
The library provides online access to over 475,000 pages from the UK’s India Office Records that date from the mid-18th century to 1951 and relate to modern historic events in Qatar, the Gulf and the Middle East region. It also shares 25,000 pages of medieval Arab Islamic sciences manuscripts, historical maps, photographs and sound recordings.
All the documents are made online for the first time and fully accessible free of charge to researchers and the general public through the online portal. There are also clear descriptions of the documents both in Arabic and English.
The project comes out of a partnership between QF and British Library, which was announced in 2012 to raise awareness on the history of the Gulf region and the Middle East.
“This is another example of Qatar becoming a knowledge-based society with creativity and innovation. It also shows that we do not deviate from our heritage and enhance the ties between the past and the present as we are holding onto our essential values,” said al-Muhannadi.
The QF president noted that the partnership with British Library is for 10 years, explaining: “It is only the first phase of the partnership. The second and third phases will be worked out soon. This partnership will benefit learning and research across different disciplines and encourage innovation and creativity.
“It is a valuable resource that assists learning and development by promoting a better understanding of heritage. It is a shining example of Qatar Foundation’s dedication to sharing knowledge with people across Qatar, the Gulf region and beyond to benefit all our future.”
Meanwhile, Lux said: “Qatar Digital Library embodies QNL’s vision of bridging with knowledge Qatar’s heritage and future. The outcome of this joint project will inspire future generations by creating one of the world’s most significant and easily accessible resources for studies into Gulf
history and Arab Islamic sciences.”
“One of the key barriers to furthering research of Arabic cultural heritage and British history in the Gulf has been physical. Now, with a click of a button, that barrier has been lifted and global research on the topic will progress with greater urgency than ever before.”
Some of the digitised pages depict key moments in the history of Qatar such as the mention of the historic walled compound of Al Zubarah in 1782. There are also records of the first survey of the coastline of Qatar that was undertaken in 1823. The pages also include a file regarding the descriptions and sketches of flags in the region between 1929 and 1938.
