Latest news with #TanHuism
Qatar Tribune
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
QNL leads regional efforts to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property
Tribune News Network Doha As part of its ongoing commitment to preserving heritage, Qatar National Library (QNL), the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)'s Regional Preservation and Conservation Centre for the Arab region, continues to champion efforts to prevent the illicit trade of cultural property across the region. In collaboration with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Qatar's General Authority of Customs, and Morocco's Administration of Customs and Indirect Taxes, Qatar National Library (QNL) is co-organizing the International Conference and High-Level Regional Workshop on the Role of Customs Authorities in Combating the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property. The event, which began on 30 June and will continue until 5 July, is being held at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, Morocco. The initiative consists of an international conference on the opening day, followed by a comprehensive five-day regional workshop that brings together customs officials, cultural heritage professionals, and law enforcement representatives from across the region, focusing on enhancing customs officers' capacity to identify and safeguard cultural property, apply international legal frameworks, and collaborate effectively with cultural and enforcement institutions. The opening ceremony featured remarks from distinguished officials including Minister of Justice, Kingdom of Morocco, Abdellatif Ouahbi; Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Kingdom of Morocco, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid; Executive Director of Qatar National Library, Tan Huism; Director-General of ICESCO, Dr. Salem bin Mohammed Al-Malik; Assistant Chairman for Customs Affairs at Qatar's General Authority of Customs Talal Abdullah Al Shaibi and senior officials Morocco's Administration of Customs and Indirect Taxes. Tan Huism discussed the gravity of the increased threats to cultural heritage, and the importance of customs authorities in combating illicit trafficking, but also the role of the media and society. She discussed the efforts that Qatar National Library has made in this area, and the importance of working in partnership. She continued: 'Cultural items are expressions of who we are as a society. They hold our collective memory, reflect our identity, and offer insight into our values and beliefs. By working hand in hand with regional and international partners, we remain committed to preventing the trafficking of cultural property and ensuring they are preserved for future generations,' she said. Talal Al Shaibi emphasized the importance of collaboration with organizations like QNL and ICESCO in strengthening the ability of customs authorities to protect cultural heritage across borders. 'Customs authorities are often the first line of defence against the illegal movement of cultural assets. Thus, they play a crucial and leading role in combatting the illicit trade,' he said. Dr. Al Malik noted that the workshop represents a key milestone in building bridges between cultural institutions and customs authorities throughout the Islamic world, reinforcing ICESCO's mission to advance cultural heritage protection. The event marked a significant step forward in strengthening regional cooperation to combat crimes against cultural property and further solidified QNL's leadership in heritage preservation. QNL's efforts are aligned with Qatar's broader vision to safeguard cultural identity. As IFLA's Regional Preservation and Conservation Centre for the region, QNL plays a pivotal role in fostering regional collaboration, providing training and support for the protection of heritage.
Qatar Tribune
21-05-2025
- General
- Qatar Tribune
QNL unveils IFLA regional office annual report 2024
QNA Doha Qatar National Library (QNL) has released the 2024 Annual Report of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions Middle East and North Africa (IFLA) Regional Office. The report outlines a landmark year of growth, collaboration and impact in advancing library services, professional development, and knowledge exchange across the MENA region. QNL was officially appointed as host of the IFLA MENA Regional Office during the 2023 IFLA World Library and Information Congress. The official signing ceremony, held in December 2024 at QNL, featured a series of capacity-building workshops, reinforcing the Library's role in advancing regional and global cooperation. The Annual Report highlights numerous other milestones during the Office's inaugural year. These include the launch of the Librarians for Libraries training programme, which attracted 1,259 registrants from 31 countries. The programme featured 16 specialised workshops delivered by expert trainers from countries including Oman, Syria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Palestine, and Qatar. The sessions fostered knowledge exchange and supported professional growth across the region. Another notable achievement is QNL's leadership in updating Qatar's data for the IFLA Library Map of the World, a global initiative that visualizes the presence and impact of libraries worldwide. Since September 2024, QNL has coordinated a national effort involving 400 libraries, achieving a response rate of 80.7 percent with participation from government and private school libraries, academic institutions as well as special and public libraries. The report also highlights the Library's impactful capacity-building initiatives such as the Emerging Librarians Programme, a training hosted at QNL for students from Sultan Qaboos University in Oman. The programme, blending theoretical instruction with practical application, provided participants with exposure to key departments, including Heritage, Digitization, and Conservation, as well as curated cultural site visits. The initiative gained international recognition, with the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals inviting QNL to share its experience in an article featured by the institute's ILIG Focus publication. Tan Huism, executive director of QNL, said these initiatives reflect the growing role of libraries in supporting communities in a multitude of ways, whether life-long learning, access to knowledge and creative and cultural events and community building. As host of the IFLA MENA Regional Office, QNL remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting regional cooperation to support knowledge exchange, cultural preservation, and innovation across the region. Eiman AlShamari, acting manager of the national collection at QNL and the manager of the IFLA Middle East and North Africa Regional Office, said: ''This year has demonstrated the potential of coordinated regional efforts in fostering a vibrant community of librarians that share the same values.'' Building on last year's success, QNL plans to expand its training offerings, launch new collaborative initiatives across the MENA region, and establish regular strategic dialogue with the IFLA to align global priorities with regional needs to support the development of library services across the Arab world.
Zawya
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Qatar National Library and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France sign new Memorandum of Understanding
Doha — In the presence of His Excellency Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari, Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library, and Her Excellency Rachida Dati, French Minister of Culture, Qatar National Library (QNL) and the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) to foster collaboration in digitization, preservation and scholarly research, with a focus on Islamic heritage and the history of the Gulf region. The MoU builds on the long-standing cultural ties between Qatar and France, which have gained momentum in recent years. Signed by Philippe Lonné, Director General of the BnF, and Tan Huism, Executive Director of QNL, the MoU reaffirms both institutions' commitment to knowledge exchange and mutual cultural understanding. It marks the continuation of a fruitful partnership between QNL and several French cultural entities. Commenting on the occasion, His Excellency Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari, Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library, said: "France has always been a valuable partner in supporting Qatar National Library's cultural and academic initiatives. This MoU is the culmination of years of meaningful collaboration and reflects the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties between Qatar and France. Our past partnerships have included joint exhibitions, lectures and seminars with the French Embassy, as well as an MoU with the French Diplomatic Archives. Two years ago, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two nations, and today we are entering a new, broader phase of cooperation—one that furthers our mission of heritage preservation and fosters knowledge as a bridge between peoples." The agreement outlines multiple areas of cooperation focusing on heritage preservation and enhancing accessibility. Key initiatives include the analysis of pigments and dyes used in ancient Qur'anic manuscripts held by both libraries, capacity building and expertise exchange in collection management, advanced technologies, and digital content development. It will also involve the digitization of rare Islamic scientific manuscripts from the BnF, which will enrich Qatar Digital Library for the benefit of local and international researchers. Tan Huism, Executive Director of Qatar National Library, said: "We are proud of our enduring relationship with France's leading cultural institutions, and we are particularly honored to partner with one of the world's oldest and most respected national libraries. This collaboration reflects our steadfast commitment to global partnerships that enrich digital content and open new horizons for academic exploration. By digitizing rare Islamic scientific manuscripts and sharing preservation expertise, we are jointly working to realize our shared vision of libraries as beacons of creativity and platforms for intercultural dialogue." About Qatar National Library Qatar National Library acts as a steward of Qatar's national heritage by collecting, preserving, and making available the country's recorded history. The Library provides equal access to all types of information and services and aims to enable the people of Qatar to positively influence society by creating an exceptional learning and discovery environment. His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, officially inaugurated Qatar National Library on 16 April 2018. The Library was granted the status of national library under the Amiri Decree No.11 of 20 March 2018. Website: The Library's e-newsletter: To subscribe to the newsletter, please visit the Library's website (homepage). Twitter: @QNLib Instagram: QatarNationalLibrary Snapchat: Qnlib Facebook: YouTube: Qatar National Library's Media Contacts: Joanna Al Mokdad Email: QNLpressoffice@
