The development of Qatar’s cultural scene was decades in the making and initially began with individual home- and majlis-based initiatives. In the 1950s, however, these initiatives transformed into government structures. The Public Library of Al-Maaref was founded in 1954, followed by the establishment of Dar Al-Kutub in 1962.

The pace of progress and construction did not slow down, though. The resolve of these early cultural pioneers grew and their belief in libraries and their role in spreading science and knowledge never faltered. Qatar National Library is the epitome of this belief.

The lecture itself, "The Emergence and Development of Public and Private Libraries in Qatar,” will be delivered by Mr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sunaidi, a researcher specializing in the modern history of Qatar. He has authored a book, Private Museums and Libraries in Qatar, and he also owns a private museum of early computers as well as a selection of early cultural magazines and periodicals. Al-Sunaidi will talk about the development of major knowledge platforms and the expansion of the cultural scene in Qatar.

The audience will hear how libraries are beacons of knowledge, a repository for the heritage and memory of nations, and a benchmark of the progress of peoples and civilizations.

The lecture will highlight how Qatar followed in the footsteps of the country’s founding fathers, and how Qatar was the exception and a role model in the library field in the Arab world.

He will explain that since the middle of the eighteenth century, Al Zubarah, in the north of Qatar, had been a popular destination for religious scholars, poets and students, who arrived in large numbers to discuss, study, copy and teach. Their experiences built cumulatively with the numerous gatherings and travels they undertook. Among these journeys was, of course, Hajj, which was an annual opportunity to consolidate ties, make up for what was missed, and discover what had been written and published by others.

Dr. Moez Al-Dridi, Senior Archives Specialist, will introduce the lecture and highlight the contents of the Heritage Library that depict the history of the cultural scene in Qatar, in addition to samples of publications and books issued by the various cultural institutions in Qatar.

Date: 17 October 2022 

Time: 5:30 - 6:30 PM

Language: Arabic and English 

Target Audience: Public 

Seats are limited, please click the button below to register.

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