Partnership with the Council on Library and Information Resources to Foster Understanding of the MENA Region’s Cultural Heritage
Qatar National Library (QNL),a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), and the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop, enhance, and make available digitised 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 the preservation of, and access to, cultural heritage. Both organisations 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.
QNL Executive Director Dr Sohair Wastawy said that the history of the Middle East is a cornerstone of the history of civilisation and preserving it is not only a cultural mandate but also an obligation to the future generations.
CLIR President Dr Charles Henry added that their partnership with QNL 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 to the success of the project.’
Peter Herdrich, co-founder of The Antiquities Coalition, a core DLME founder also said that QNL is an unrivalled 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 to serve our common cultural record. This is an exciting development.’
For more information about the Digital Library of the Middle East, please visit their website through this link.