Qatar National Library (QNL) and Partners Unite in Effort to Restore Libraries and Cultural Institutions in Beirut

From the Qatar National Library:

To support the rebuilding of Lebanon’s cultural capacity that was damaged by the 2020 explosion in Beirut’s port, Qatar National Library, ALIPH, UNESCO and partners will help key cultural organizations and school libraries across Lebanon reconstruct their premises and restore their archives.

In parallel to the Library’s plan for the rehabilitation and restoration of libraries, the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH), based in Geneva, Switzerland, is providing complementary funding. 

The Library will also work in partnership on projects implemented by UNESCO Lebanon for various local libraries. The project will strengthen the existing cooperation between the Library and UNESCO and build on both organizations’ achievements in preserving and promoting documentary heritage in the Arab region.

The extensive venture embraces the reopening of large and small cultural institutions alike while assisting them in resuming their services during the rehabilitation phase. To this end, and in addition to funding, the Library will offer professional support and preservation materials, as well as post-disaster training and capacity-building programs to libraries and relevant organizations nationwide. The Library is the IFLA Preservation and Conservation Regional Center for Arab Countries and the Middle East.

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As part of the project, the Library will support partners’ renovation efforts by providing book-cleaning machines to remove dust and debris resulting from the blast, revamping school libraries, and supporting repairs at important heritage buildings. This includes joining forces with the Prince Claus Fund in providing “first aid” to rescue Lebanon’s knowledge treasure trove. The Netherlands-based foundation will leverage its vast networks of exchange to support this high-level initiative and further stimulate cultural expression within, and between, the country’s various communities and regions.

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