By Fazeena Saleem
Doha: The Qatar National Library (QNL)’s Qatar Digital Library (QDL) project aims to digitise 1,125,000 pages of rare, historical documents in a bid to contribute to current understanding of the Gulf’s regional history and the Arabic and Islamic World.
Digitalising the pages will be completed by 2018.
QDL was launched in 2014 and through its website www.qdl.qa, users can find a wealth of diverse information relating to the history of Qatar and the region. There are digitised letters in English from the 18th to the 20th century with information about life in the Gulf region, administration and petroleum companies, as there are important manuscripts of Arab and Islamic scientists which were hidden in the British Library.
“Our aim is to make this information and knowledge about the Gulf freely available for everyone — from those with a general interest in the history of the Gulf to the academic researchers undertaking ground-breaking historical research. The QDL is an important contribution to the study of the Gulf history, improving understanding of the modern history of the Gulf, the Arabic cultural heritage and the Islamic world,” Dr Claudia Lux, Qatar National Library’s Project Director told this newspaper.
Presently, the online portal provides access to over 650,000 pages from the British Library’s collections with descriptions in both Arabic and English. This includes 625,000 pages from the India Office Records and 25,000 pages of medieval Arabic manuscripts digitised and made accessible online for the first time.
The Heritage Collection of the QNL is a unique contribution to Qatar’s cultural landscape.
The Heritage Collection comprises some of the rarest and most valuable texts and manuscripts related to Arab-Islamic civilisation. The growing collection currently includes books and periodicals about the Arab world in many European languages. First books printed with Arabic letters can be find here as well as Arabic religious and scientific manuscripts, maps and globes, as well as instruments and tools related to travel, and a selection of early photography.
QNL recognises that Qatar’s youth need to be equipped with the necessary resources, knowledge, and skills to preserve the nation’s heritage, while driving their community into the future.
“QNL provides access to digital resources for young people through its children and teen collections. There are picture books and fiction with beautiful stories and non-fiction for all kind of interests from pyramids to dinosaur and astronomy. There are music and graphic novels as animated Arabic learning features,” said Dr Lux.
“Additionally, through a range of interactive children and teen events, QNL aims to create an ambiance conducive to learning, self-development and creativity. The skills acquired through these programmes and events are helpful for children and teens academic and social excellence,” she added.
In 2015, in addition to hosting a range of interactive monthly events for children, families and the general public in Qatar, QNL’s successful participation in the 26th annual Doha International Book Fair where it received nearly 1,500 new member registrations was a remarkable highlight of the year.
“It shows, that there is a growing reading culture in Qatar. Furthermore, throughout the year, QNL has registered thousands of users wishing to gain access to the library’s wealth of learning resources,” said Dr Lux.
Residents of Qatar with valid Qatari IDs are able to access all databases of QNL free of charge after registration through QNL’s website: www.qnl.qa. There is a wide range of online databases for all kind of interests from medicine to engineering, from history to music or with lots of interesting fiction that can being accessed through the library’s website.
The Peninsula
