Partnership with the Council on Library and Information Resources to Foster Understanding of the MENA Region’s Cultural Heritage

 

Doha, Qatar, August 22, 2017: Qatar National Library (QNL) and the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that aims to develop, enhance, and make available digitized cultural heritage content through the Digital Library of the Middle East (DLME).

The DLME is a collaborative effort that aspires to create a sustainable digital environment for the cultural heritage of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, while providing an array of applications, tools, and descriptions that enrich the content, facilitate sophisticated inquiry, and engage with the widest possible community of practice.

The QNL-CLIR MoU aims to foster future collaboration in the areas of raising awareness and fostering understanding of the MENA region’s cultural heritage and safeguarding it by creating sustainable, long-term information environments for preservation of, and access to, cultural heritage. In addition, the MoU will support work to respond to the destruction of cultural heritage, educate a worldwide audience, and promote respect for the historical record. The organizations aim to achieve this through the activation of like-minded populations and outreach activities – locally, regionally, and internationally – alongside the development of partnerships with content-rich institutions and models for international cooperation.

Dr. Sohair Wastawy, Executive Director of QNL, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), said: “We are delighted to be a founding member of the DLME and to be a partner with CLIR. The history of the Middle East is a cornerstone of the history of civilization and preserving it is not only a cultural mandate but also an obligation we have toward future generations.”

Dr. Charles Henry, President of CLIR, said: “Our partnership with Qatar National Library marks a pivotal turn for the Digital Library of the Middle East. The technical expertise, content, and insight that QNL brings to this project are extraordinary and we are delighted to work in this shared vision with the library’s distinguished staff and leadership who will contribute integrally to the success of the project.”

Peter Herdrich, co-founder of The Antiquities Coalition, a core DLME founder, said: “Qatar National Library is an unrivaled international partner for the Digital Library of the Middle East. We share the goal of designing and implementing solutions and creating a cooperative community in the MENA region in service to the cultural record. This is an exciting development.”

For more information about the Digital Library of the Middle East, please visit: https://dlme.clir.org/