With One Million Books on Shelves, Qatar National Library Officially Opens

From The Peninsula:

The QNL building is designed by renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. It is fully accessible to visitors with special needs. It features numerous custom-designed innovations, including an automatic book sorting system, several interactive media walls, and self-check-in and check-out machines that make borrowing books easier for members.
The Heritage Collection, located in the center of the QNL building, includes rare and valuable texts and manuscripts related to Arabic and Islamic civilization. In addition to Arabic manuscripts, historical maps and globes, scientific instruments and early photography, the collection also contains writings by travelers who explored the Arabian Gulf region over the centuries.
The library has received more than 161,000 visitors since last November’s opening, more than 51,000 new members have been registered. The number of borrowed books has exceeded 300,000, of which 185,536 are from the children’s and adolescents’ group and 115,278 are from the main group, enabling it to become a destination for all the members of society during the past six months.

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Direct to Qatar National Library Website
See Also: Learn More About Official Opening Events
See Also: Qatar Formally Launches Project to Build New National Library (November 22, 2012)

Filed under: Libraries, Maps, National Libraries, News