Qatar National Library (QNL) is to offer a series of events for “inquisitive, ingenious minds” in November.
On November 2, QNL will run a special workshop, ‘Fear and Its Impact on Mental Health’, in collaboration with Dr Hanan Hassan Eissa Abd al-Thaher. The effects of fear and stressful emotions on mental and physical health will be outlined in detail, as well as effective techniques to maintain mental health in a world full of stress and uncertainty.
On November 3, parents are invited to teach their children valuable life skills from the comfort of their homes. This free, interactive and engaging online session has been developed specifically for children aged eight to 11 with special needs. Every session is packed with engaging content and calming tools to help children build confidence and resilience and develop a growth mindset in an interactive, serious and fun way, QNL has said in a statement.
The session will be run by UK-based Role Models online life skills course for children.
On November 17, the library will run another session with Role Models, ‘Brilliant Me and My Feelings’, which will further help parents teach children valuable life skills.
Also, on November 5, QNL will hold the latest edition of the Young Adults Film Club for those who wonder how movies look from the other side of the camera. Attendees will learn how to watch movies from a filmmaker’s perspective.
On November 9, the library will run a special session on digital addiction, in partnership with Hamad Bin Khalifa University and the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The event will discuss the concept of digital addiction, the role of digital media design in facilitating it, and futuristic tools and policies to combat addiction.
Digital addiction is defined as problematic use of digital media characterised by obsessive, excessive and hasty behaviour, leading to harm for individuals and their social circles.
On November 10, discovery can be made about the Red Planet with QNL, in co-operation with Al Thuraya Planetarium. The phenomenon of Mars’ closest approach to Earth took place in October, and will not be repeated until 2035. This special lecture will explain the astrophysics behind this event and shed light on why it occurred.
On November 26, people can join the library on Instagram Live for a workshop on the power of readiness, presented by Dr Amal al-Otaibi, member of the Training Authority of the College of Basic Education, the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training at Kuwait University. The lecture will identify the concept of readiness and the importance of being prepared for all eventualities.
Also on November 26,  QNL offers ‘Enrichment Reading’ to help support and enhance children’s Arabic language learning skills, in co-operation with Little Thinking Minds. Parents and educators will get a clearer understanding of the concept of enrichment
reading and how to implement it in the classroom or at home. The online lecture will be conducted by educator and academic consultant, Ghadeer Hatabeh.
On November 28, QNL will hold the seventh in a series of readings from rare historical manuscripts preserved in the Heritage Library.
Mahmoud Zaki, the library’s manuscript specialist, will examine several texts by Arab and Muslim scholars about plagues and pandemics.
Each will focus on the human commonalities between the past and the present, and preventive measures that were used at the time.
Finally, on November 30, patrons can have a cup of virtual coffee with Aisha al-Kuwari, owner and CEO of Roza Publishing. She will discuss reading in the age of technology and the role of Roza in fostering a culture of reading.
Related Story