Iraq: Two Reports About Plans to Build New Baghdad Public Library

2 reports.
1) From The Art Newspaper:

A vast public library planned for Baghdad will be the centerpiece of a new culture hub under an ambitious new masterplan driven by the Iraqi Ministry of Youth and Sport. The drop-shaped building, designed by AMBS architects in London, will house up to three million books, including rare manuscripts.
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The project is due to go out to tender for a contractor later this year, and is expected to be completed in three years time.
Meanwhile, Saad Eskander, the director of the Iraq National Library and Archives (INLA) in Baghdad, told Finnish press that construction has started on a new, $19 million, five-storey building which will house the institution’s digitalised audio-visual collections.

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2. New Baghdad Library Takes Step Closer to Realisation (Via The Guardian)

The Iraq National Library was devastated by fire and looting when allied troops entered the city in 2003. An estimated 60% of archival materials – including records of the Ba’athist regime – and 25% of books, newspapers, rare books, historical photographs and maps were destroyed. Construction of the new 45,000 sq m library building is expected to be completed within three years.
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The six-storey library will house 2.8m books and accommodate 5,060 visitors.

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See Also: Drawings of New Public Library To Be Built in Baghdad Released (June 22, 2013)

Filed under: Archives and Special Collections, Libraries, Maps, National Libraries, News, Public Libraries, Reports