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QNA
Doha
The Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani will patronise the official inauguration of the Qatar National Library (QNL) on Monday evening.
The Father Emir HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani and HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser will attend the ceremony.
Presidents and representatives of heads of friendly states as well as dignitaries and senior officials will attend the opening ceremony.
The one millionth book will be placed on library shelves at the opening ceremony. The library has a total display capacity of 1.2 million books.
QNL, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), will organise a host of public events over two weeks.
Lectures, seminars, exhibitions, educational and training workshops highlighting the library's leading role in spreading knowledge and highlighting the history and heritage of Qatar will be organised.
As a unique heritage library, QNL will promote a deeper global vision of the history and the culture of the Arabian Gulf region. It will provide all citizens and residents of Qatar with equal opportunities to benefit from its facilities, and services that support creativity and independence in decision-making and the development of their cultural knowledge, as well as its leading role in the library and cultural heritage sector in the country.
Qatar National Library supports Qatar's shift from dependence on natural resources to diversification and sustainability of the economy, by providing the necessary knowledge resources for students, researchers and anyone living in Qatar to enhance lifelong learning opportunities, empower individuals and society, and contribute to a better future for all.
Designed by renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, the QNL building is fully accessible to visitors with special needs. It features numerous custom-built 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 Heritage Collection, located in the centre of the QNL building, includes rare and valuable texts and manuscripts related to Arabic and Islamic civilisation. In addition to Arabic manuscripts, historical maps and globes, scientific instruments and early photography, the collection also contains writings by travellers who explored the Arabian Gulf region over the centuries.
The library has received more than 161,000 visitors since last November's soft opening. More than 51,000 new members have also been registered.
