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Qatar National Library recently hosted a delegation of information and library students from Sultan Qaboos University in the Sultanate of Oman as part of a five-day comprehensive professional training programme entitled “Rise of Library Professionals”.
The initiative is part of Qatar National Library’s ongoing efforts to build the capacity of information professionals across the Arab world after it was selected last year as the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) regional office for the Middle East and North Africa, setting a historic precedent in the region.
The training programme included an introduction to the Library’s departments, divisions, services and various facilities for the Omani student delegation, in addition to visits to the Heritage Library, the Digitisation Centre, the Children’s Library and the Conservation and Maintenance Centre. The students learned about the techniques for the preservation and restoration of heritage materials, as well as the Library’s role as an IFLA Regional Centre for the Preservation of… Library Materials and Preservation since 2015.
Commenting on the visit, Iman Al-Shammari, Director of the Yafen Library and Director of the IFLA Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, said the training programme reflects the library’s strong commitment to training the next generation of library and information professionals. “As the IFLA Regional Office, we make a significant contribution to preserving and disseminating the region’s heritage to future generations,” she added.
The program also includes field visits to various cultural institutions in Qatar, such as the Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar University, the Library of the Doha Graduate School, and a visit to the Qatar National Archives in M’Sherreb, which collects and preserves knowledge containers and archival documents about the history of the State of Qatar.
Professor Khalsa Bint Abdullah Al Barashidiya, Director of Training at the Department of Information Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, praised the efforts of Qatar National Library and its rich experience. The team said: “We are very happy to participate in this unique training event, which is organized in cooperation with the Qatar National Library Regional Office of the International Federation of Library and Information Associations.”
She pointed out that the training course combined theoretical education with practical application, enriched the participants’ culture and broadened their knowledge through field trips, while also providing participants with practical experience in one of the most advanced libraries in the region.
Participants expressed admiration for the well-designed training program and emphasized the educational and enriching nature of the training provided by experienced experts in simplifying complex information and making it understandable to everyone.
The student, Omniyat Bint Ahmed Al-Khasib, said: “The timing of the training is ideal during a very important phase of our studies, as we are students of library science and I look forward to future practical opportunities in the field of preservation and conservation, especially those that suit my archiving profession.” As for the students, Ghaith bin Zaher Al Harithi stressed the importance of the library initiative, saying: “This is the most important one we have learnt during this period. The theme of the training was ‘Reading in Qatar’ and I hope to see such an initiative in Oman under the name ‘Reading in Oman’ and I am sure its impact will be huge.”
On the other hand, Imad bin Nasser Al-Shukaili praised the unique experience they had, which familiarized them with the library’s innovative technologies, saying: “I was impressed by the book return station and the smooth experience it provides to library members. Borrowing and returning books, hopefully, will be implemented at the National Library of Oman, which is currently under construction.”
The final day of the training programme included a meeting with the library’s User Services team and concluded with a ceremony where students were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from Qatar National Library, IFLA’s Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa.
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