A significant part of the Library’s service to Qatar’s diverse community is through its wide-ranging programme of events.
At the launch of the Qatar National Library project in November 2012, H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, expressed a vision for the Library to be “the third space after home and work”.
Since opening its doors in November 2017, the Library has lived up to this powerful vision. It is transcending the classical, traditional role of a library to become a vibrant hub of social engagement, education and communication.
A significant part of the Library’s service to Qatar’s diverse community is through its wide-ranging program of events, from concerts and scientific lectures to technology training and creative workshops, and members have responded to them enthusiastically.
The Library has held more than 900 events since it opened its doors to the general public, attracting more than 21,000 participants. People of all ages are embracing the National Library as a public space where they can create, learn, grow and collaborate in interesting ways.
To serve all of Qatar’s adult population, the Library’s Research and Learning Department focused on four themes in 2018: lifelong learning, capacity building, social engagement, and culture and heritage.
“Our calendar of programmes and events is designed to suit the needs of everyone. They encourage children to test their creativity and think outside the box, and offer older members of the community the opportunity to engage in continuing educational activities,” Hind Al Khulaifi, Acting Director of Research and Learning at the Library told The Peninsula.
Events’ participants agree that the Library has been part of their journeys in search of knowledge and personal empowerment, beyond simply being a place where they can access information.
“The Library is putting knowledge to practice in a new way, and I am happy to have access to such a resource for free. The Library brings together people from many different backgrounds to learn and interact. This place has become my second home,” said Suleiman Bah, a Library member.
Bringing peers together to share experiences and exchange knowledge is the purpose behind the Library’s Postgraduate Peer Support Network. The informal gatherings give aspiring and current postgraduate students the opportunity to exchange information and knowledge, share expertise, and provide each other intellectual and emotional support. Researchers can get further help through frequent workshops on the Library’s many academic databases and citation tools such as ‘RefWorks’.
The Science Book Forum is another opportunity for collaborative learning, in which young people are encouraged to develop a lasting interest in scientific literature.
Cultural and heritage events held in last one year included a monthly concert series by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra and a performance by the young winners of the First Qatar National Music Competition; live readings at Poetry Nights; talks at the Qatari Authors Forum; and lectures such as “The Vision of the Leader: Founder of Qatar.”
The Library offers social engagement events, such as the weekly Knitting and Crochet Circle and monthly Arabic and English book clubs, where members of the community can learn from each other and make friends at the same time.
With such a full program of multi-faceted activities and events, the Library has become Qatar’s go-to knowledge, public and cultural space since it opened.
