About Qatar National Library - SLA / Arabian Gulf Chapter

SLA / Arabian Gulf Chapter

About Qatar National Library (QNL)

Qatar National Library (QNL) was officially opened to the public in 2018 and is a purpose-built, 45,000 square meter space incorporating adult and children’s book collections, heritage collections and community spaces.

QNL provides free and equal access for all of Qatar's residents to an environment that supports creativity, independent decision-making, and cultural development. In addition to full-text online resources, the Library currently has more than one million books, along with more than 500,000 ebooks, periodicals and newspapers, and special collections. It hosts dozens of monthly events and offers free access to musical instruments, photography equipment and design software, as well as state-of-the-art technology for people with physical impairments. A sensory room offers support for those with neurodevelopmental conditions.

The Library acts as a steward of Qatar’s national heritage by collecting, preserving, and making available the country’s recorded history. As the IFLA Regional Preservation and Conservation Center, QNL coordinates capacity-building programs and promotes best practices in preservation, while Qatar Digital Library provides global access to a vast archive of digitized records that pertain to the Arabian Gulf.

In its role as a research library with a preeminent heritage library, the Library fosters and promotes greater global insight into the history and culture of the Gulf region. It also champions a policy of open access through Manara - Qatar Research Repository and supports local research with the Open Access Fund. Through all our functions, we provide leadership to the country’s library and cultural heritage sector.

Qatar, which captured the world's attention with its remarkable success in organizing and hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022™, believes that education is the driving force that will lead the nation towards a sustainable knowledge-based economy, despite its immense natural gas reserves. Through the Qatar National Library and the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development, Qatar has become a unique educational hub, not only in the Gulf region but in the entire Arab world.

The establishment and opening of the Qatar National Library represent one of the latest efforts of Qatar in transitioning to a knowledge-based economy in the post- hydrocarbon era. The country, represented by Qatar National Library, makes significant efforts to support libraries and documentation institutions in sister Arab countries, combat illegal trafficking of documentary heritage, and preserve Arabic manuscript treasures.

For more information, please visit Qatar National Library website: www.qnl.qa

Vision

To be one of the world's preeminent centers of learning, research and culture; a guardian of the region’s heritage; and an institution that promotes imagination, discovery and the nourishment of the human spirit.

Mission

The mission of Qatar National Library is to preserve the nation's and region's heritage and enable the people of Qatar to positively influence society by creating an exceptional environment for learning and discovery.

Our Values

Openness and Transparency with all patrons and organizations we deal with, where privacy and confidentiality are observed.
Education and Lifelong Learning, where we strive to offer services that facilitate equitable learning.
Open Access, where we are committed to free, open, unrestricted access to our collections and services.
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, Respect and Fairness, where our patrons are valued regardless of race, color, sex, gender, religion, disability, age, genetic information, socioeconomic status, or national or ethnic origin, and where their opinions, needs and viewpoints are considered in every decision we make.
Growth and Innovation, where we encourage creativity, continuous learning, experimentation and the generation of ideas.
Stewardship of all the resources with which we have been entrusted and are accountable for, ensuring the proper use of state funds and the preservation of the nation’s heritage and intellectual output.
Intellectual Freedom, where we are committed to facilitating the free exchange of information and ideas.