His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will patronise the official inauguration ceremony of Qatar National Library (QNL) on Monday ( April,16) evening.

His Highness the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser are to attend the ceremony as well.

QNL's inauguration ceremony will also be attended by a number of dignitaries from across the world, including presidents and representatives of heads of friendly states and a number of former presidents as well as senior officials, Gulf times reported.

The national library has a total capacity of 1.2mn books, the inauguration will see the one millionth book placed on the library shelves.

A variety of public events

Qatar National Library (QNL), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has prepared a wide-ranging program on the occasion of its official opening. The public is invited to attend lectures, panel discussions, and exhibitions that highlight the library’s leading role in spreading knowledge and promoting the history and heritage of Qatar, the Arabian Gulf region, and beyond.

“One of our missions as a library is to help raise the information literacy of our users – to help them develop critical thinking and judgement skills to find, recognize, and use the materials they need,” said Dr. Sohair Wastawy, Executive Director of QNL. “Our inaugural panel discussion and lecture will address many of the important issues and opportunities we face in a time of seemingly limitless access to information.”

Heritage library exhibition

The first QNL Heritage Library exhibition will open to the public on April 17, 2018, displaying a wide range of items from the collection that illustrate the spread of ideas throughout the Islamic world, as well as documenting interaction between Arabs and the West through the centuries. The exhibition features books, manuscripts, maps, globes, and travelers' instruments, telling the story of Qatar, along with the history of science, literature, women, writing, travel, and religions in the region.

Book club for the blind

QNL’s ‘Book Club for the Blind’, a project that provides social opportunities and promotes equal access to the resources and services of the library, will also be launched by the President of the World Blind Union, Dr. Fredrick K. Schroeder, on April 17. The project aims to share common reading interests and allow participants to experience the natural connection between reading and communication.

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(Image credits: Qatar National Library)

Read more: Five fascinating facts about the Qatar National Library

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Khadiza Begum

Content Writer

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