Doha: Qatar National Library (QNL) has hosted students from Sultan Qaboos University in Oman for a comprehensive five-day training programme titled ‘Emerging Librarians.’ QNL offers the programme as part of its continuous initiatives aimed at empowering information specialists across the region. This effort has intensified since last year when QNL was designated as the inaugural MENA Regional Office for the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), marking a historic first for the region.
The training programme featured orientation sessions to familiarize students with the QNL’s various departments, including a tour of the Heritage Library, Digitization Center, Children’s Library, and the Preservation and Conservation Center where students were briefed on the conservation techniques and processes used to preserve heritage items and the library’s role since 2015, as IFLA’s Regional Preservation and Conservation Center.
To mark this occasion, Head of Young Adults’ Library, and
the Manager of the IFLA Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, Eiman Saleh Al Shamari, said the training reflects the Library’s firm commitment to imbue the next generation of librarians and information specialists in Qatar and the region with the necessary knowledge and skills to embark on their librarianship careers, affirming that IFLA’s regional office is actively contributing to wider efforts, in pursuit of preserving and disseminating the region’s cultural heritage for generations to come.
Additionally, the programme included field trips to cultural monuments and institutions across Qatar, such as the Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar University, and the Doha Institute Library. Students also toured the National Archives of Qatar in Msheireb, an institution dedicated to collecting and preserving documents and archives related to Qatar.
For her part, Training Supervisor at the Department of Information Studies in the College of Arts and Social Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University, Professor Kh
aleesa Al Barashdi, expressed her appreciation for QNL’s efforts and the wide-ranging expertise of its team, underlining that she was delighted to engage in this unique training initiative, held in collaboration with the IFLA Regional Office at QNL.
The training programme was notably effective, combining theoretical instruction with practical application, supplemented by field visits that significantly enhanced students’ learning. These components not only enriched their knowledge, but also provided them with firsthand experience at one of the most advanced libraries in the region, highlighted Al Barashdi.
Impressed by the well-designed programme, the students highlighted the enriching and educational nature of the training delivered by experts who made complex information accessible and engaging.
Student Omniyat Ahmed Al Khusaibi said that as aspiring library science specialists, the training’s timing was perfect as she was approaching a critical phase of her graduation, pointing out that she looks forwar
d to future opportunities, particularly in the preservation and conservation areas, aligning closely with her specialization in archiving.
On the other hand, Emad Nasser Al Shukili praised the unique experience that provided insights into innovative technologies, affirming that he was impressed by the self-return book system, and the seamless experience it provides for members. He hoped that this experience would be implemented in the National Library of Oman, which is currently under construction.
The last day of the training programme featured a meeting with the Library’s User Services Team and concluded with a ceremony where students received certificates of appreciation from QNL as the IFLA MENA regional office.
Source: Qatar News Agency