Doha: At the time when discussions about the rising popularity of e-books and other digital devices, the love for printed words and books has grown significantly in Qatar. The number of books borrowed and people borrowing them from libraries has risen significantly last year, showing that the magic of printed is still intact.
According to data of The Planning and Statistics Authority, the number of books borrowed last year has seen an annual surge by around 266 percent while the number of borrower jumped by 295 percent in 2018.
Around 835,841 books were borrowed last year compared to 228,322 books in 2017, reflecting more than three-fold rise. Similarly, the numbers of books borrowers surged from 820,679 in 2018, compared to 207,651 borrowers in 2017, showing almost three-fold rise in the number book borrowers.
Of the total eight public libraries, Qatar National Library emerged as the major crowed-puller as it attracted thousands of book lovers. It had the lion’s share in total number of books borrowed during last year.
According to Planning and Statistics Authority, 795,640 books were borrowed from QNL in 2018. QNL had opened its doors to the public in November 2017 for an experimental period and was officially inaugurated in April 2018. The library offers residents access to more than one million books, periodicals, and special collections, as well as the QNL Heritage Library.
It features numerous custom-designed innovations, including an automatic book sorting system, several interactive media walls, and self-check-in and check-out machines that make borrowing books easier for members. The library is playing crucial leading role in spreading knowledge and promoting the history and heritage of Qatar, in the Arabian Gulf region, and beyond.
QNL’s website allows users to register for membership, search the library’s collection, reserve meeting and event spaces in the building, and access the dozens of online digital resources available to members.
Among other libraries, Dar Al-Kutub Al-Qatariyya library saw highest turn out of book lovers. Over 182,00 books were borrowed from the library by 15,301 borrowers in 2018. Sheikh-Ali Al-Thani Library was also big crowd puller as 14,512 books were borrowed from the library last year. Residents also went to Al-Khor Library, Al-Shamal Library, Al-Khanssa Library, Al-Wakrah Library to borrow books.
