Doha
Qatar National Library (QNL), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), will have its debut appearance at the Doha International Book Fair 2015, to engage members of the community.
Marking its 25th year, the Doha International Book Fair will open today and run until January 17 at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC).
It will feature thousands of books from more than 30 countries, bringing to light some of the unique aspects of Qatar’s culture and heritage. The book fair, which attracts visitors from around the world, will also run alongside the Doha Cultural Festival that includes an art exhibition, traditional plays, a description of the history of books, and other cultural and artistic activities.
A QNL team will be at the book fair to assist visitors to register for the library’s online resources and follow in the footsteps of the thousands of students, researchers and members of the general public who had the opportunity to access its wide range of material.
The team will conduct a series of informative sessions about its collection of databases and initiatives, which are free to residents of Qatar, including a preview of the recently launched Qatar Digital Library in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of open access to valuable information.
In addition, families are encouraged to participate in the children’s programmes as part of QNL’s activities that will inspire young people with the nation’s heritage and open their eyes to the rich cultural resources from the library’s databases.
Dr Claudia Lux, project director, QNL, said: “The Doha International Book Fair is a valuable opportunity for Qatar National Library to shed light on the importance of the unmatched resources we offer to both the local and international communities. In support of the nation’s journey towards becoming a knowledge-based economy, QNL continues to make unparalleled research and educational resources available to the people of Qatar.”
Saadi al-Said, associate director for administration and planning at QNL, said: “Qatar National Library’s online resources have been received extremely positively by the community in Qatar. The QNL team will be at the book fair to provide visitors from the local and international reading communities a clear overview of the modern library facilities on offer at QNL.”
QNL’s various resources and services will also be on display at the library’s dedicated space at QNCC from 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 10pm throughout the duration of the exhibition.
By sharing valuable information and cultivating creativity, QNL continues to support Qatar Foundation’s mission to foster a progressive society by increasing human capital and promoting social development through providing access to a wealth of resources through its exceptional selection of online databases, regular training programmes, and social engagement initiatives.
